Aerial view of Blaca hermitage on island of Brač

Culture, art & history trip

Island of Brač - cultural oasis packed with historic sites

If you’re hungry for history and culture, this Croatian island is what you’ve been looking for. On Brač you can explore a multitude of historic villages and ruins, including a mysterious hermitage located in the Blaca hermitage - a truly amazing site to which no photograph does justice. While on this beautiful island, you’ll also get to experience some of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic and visit the quarry whose stones built The White House.

Trip highlights

  • Visiting a multitude of historic villages and ruins, each with a special story of its own
  • Tour of Pučišća, which was placed on the list of the 15 most beautiful villages in Europe
  • A drive to the highest peak of all the Adriatic islands - Vidova Gora
  • Visiting Klis Fortress, the defensive stronghold used for setting of Meereen in the Game of Thrones TV series
  • Visiting the famous "Brač Bonsai" growing atop of a small church in the village Nerežišće 

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Croatia is the land of a thousand islands. One of the most beautiful and fascinating Croatian islands is Brač – an unparalleled mosaic of unspoiled nature, a distinctive historical and cultural heritage, and surrounded with crystal-clear Adriatic Sea. The Dalmatian hospitality, Mediterranean climate with more than 2,700 sunshine hours per year and famous Brač cuisine characterised by lamb and “vitalac“ (skewered lamb offal), fish, olive oil, and the exquisite Brač cheese accompanied with premium Brač wine Plavac Mali will make you connect with the island in such a way that you'll never want to leave.

Croatia’s 1185 islands make it one of the most indented countries in the Mediterranean and the entire world. 67 of those islands are inhabited.

Brač Island is the third largest island in the Adriatic with an area of 395 km². Brač is famed for their lamb that has not yet tasted grass, but only their mother’s milk that has grazed off salty open pastures with sage, fennel and other aromatic herbs. Brački vitalac is an ancient dish prepared of lamb’s offal (liver, milt, heart, lungs) fired on a spit, then wrapped in caul to be further grilled.

Zlatni Rat beach is a one-of-a-kind, approximately one-km-long beach and a natural phenomenon because nowhere else in the world will you find a beach that is perpendicular to the coastline with a horn that constantly changes its shape as it shifts from one side to the other, depending on the tides and the winds.

Blaca desert on the island of Brač isn't just your run-of-the-mill sandy desert. It is a secluded area, a hermitage where hard-working monks retired to pray and lead a spiritual life after fleeing from the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century and settling on the island of Brač. Blaca desert which was also an astronomical observatory is a veritable natural and cultural phenomenon as well as a valuable monument to human labour and perseverance. Located there is a church and monastery, residential, and farm buildings, as well as fertile vineyards and olive groves that were planted by the diligent hermits in the wilderness, forests, and the mostly barren soil of the island.

Don't be surprised when you see the famous "Brač Bonsai". This tiny pine tree growing on the roof of a small church has remained stunted and small due to poor growing conditions, despite being a hundred years old. It was declared a natural monument in 1969 and is one of only a handful of such trees in the world.

Make sure to visit the small business located in the centre of Postira that makes homemade soap and turns it into genuine miniature works of art. All of their soaps are made and cut by hand and contain essential oils, which provides their unique medicinal qualities and fragrance.

Also, the Stina Winery is an interesting place to see. Located at the Bol promenade, its entire story is inspired by the white Brač stone to the point that it was even named after it.

Brač is well known for its stone quarry. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, entire dynasties of renowned Croatian stonemasons honed their craft in the quarries nearby, the most notable of which are Giorgio da Sebenico, Andrija Aleši and Nicolas of Florence. Buildings that were built by using white stone form Brač include Diocletian's Palace in Split, the Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik, and Trogir Cathedral. It was used for the renovation of the White House in Washington in 1902.

Nearby Klis fortress has the most interesting past. It was the home to Uskoks, irregular soldiers in Habsburg Croatia that inhabited areas on the eastern Adriatic coast and surrounding territories during the Ottoman wars in Europe. Etymologically, the word “uskoci” itself means “the ones who jumped in” (“the ones who ambushed”) in Croatian. Bands of Uskoks fought a guerrilla war against the Ottomans, and they formed small units and rowed swift boats. Since the Uskoks were checked on land and were rarely paid their annual subsidy, they resorted to acts of piracy. 

Day-by-day itinerary

DAY 1

Authentic Dalmatian charm of the fishing village Postira

Arrival in Postira, a small fishing village situated on the northern coastline of Brač Island, whose numerous stone houses and narrow alleys exude an authentic Dalmatian charm and architectural style. It is the perfect destination for soothing the body and soul. After you check-in at the hotel, we suggest that you explore and take a stroll through Postira on your own.

DAY 2

Unique Blaca hermitage, Vidova Gora and Museum of Olive Oil

After breakfast, visit to the hidden Blaca hermitage, a natural monument that is not only unique to the island of Brač, but also to the entire Croatian coast. It is a secluded area, a hermitage where hard-working monks retired to pray and lead a spiritual life after fleeing from the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century and settling on the island of Brač. Blaca hermitage which was also an astronomical observatory is a veritable natural and cultural phenomenon as well as a valuable monument to human labour and perseverance. Located there is a church and monastery, residential, and farm buildings, as well as fertile vineyards and olive groves that were planted by the diligent hermits in the wilderness, forests, and the mostly barren soil of the island.

Afterwards your driver will take you to Vidova Gora – the highest peak of all the Adriatic islands (778 m). A majestic scenic view of Bol, the famous Zlatni Rat beach and Hvar Island extends from Vidova Gora, and in clear weather you can also see other islands - Korčula, Vis, Biševo, the Pelješac peninsula and Mount Biokovo. Ladies and gentlemen, start your cameras!

The road continues to Škrip, the oldest settlement on the island. Prehistoric ramparts, numerous archaeological finds, sarcophagi and reliefs, and medieval graves testify to the long history of this place and life on the island of Brac.

In the Museum of Olive Oil you will have an appropriate presentation and lecture on olive growing on the island of Brač and will enjoy the delicious local products of the island, such as olive oil, pâtés of green and black olives, salads, capers, sheep's cheese, marmalade and homemade wine.

After the tasting, return to Postira.

DAY 3

Brač Bonsai, stone bridge and traditional lunch at a tavern

After breakfast, we have a real Brač adventure in store for you today. Taking a ride on the roads and paths of the island will provide you with an authentic experience and allow you to take in the island with all your senses. You will go sightseeing the old part of Sutivan, an easy walk down the street paved by the stone named "Kogul".

Then you will visit Ložišće and the stone bridge, which has been dubbed “Franz Joseph Bridge“ by the people of Brač, since it was built during Austrian rule.

Afterwards you will be leaving for the charming village of Nerežišća where you will visit the most photographed site on Brač after Zlatni Rat beach – the "Brač Bonsai".

Visiting the small and charming historically preserved ethno-eco village Dol will provide you with an authentic experience – there are houses traditionally covered in stone slabs that rise high in a step-terrace configuration and a multitude of fine-grained stone caves.

Ready your palates because you will be having well-known Brač specialties for lunch - local lamb and “vitalac“ (skewered lamb offal), which you can savour in the traditional atmosphere of a typical Brač tavern. Return to Postira.

DAY 4

Visit Bol and Zlatni Rat shingle beach

After breakfast, it's up to you how you wish to spend the rest of your day. We suggest that you go to Bol and become familiar with the first tourist oasis on the island of Brač. You can take the regular bus routes to the south side of the island. Take a walk on the enchanting Bol walkway covered by the shade of centuries-old pine trees to the pride of Bol - the world famous and peculiarly shaped Zlatni Rat shingle beach. The elegance and beauty of Zlatni Rat has made this beach a recognisable symbol of not only Bol and Brač, but also Croatian tourism in general. When you start working up an appetite, head to one of the restaurants or taverns in Bol and treat yourself to the local delicacies that tell yet another story about the island. Return to Postira.

DAY 5

Stone Trip: visit to one of the most beautiful villages in Europe

Good morning! Your breakfast awaits you. Did you know that stone used for the construction of many notable buildings has been extracted from the quarries of Brač Island since ancient times? You will be visiting the most famous of those quarries, which is located in the vicinity of Pučišća.

The ancient craft of stonemasonry has been kept alive by the Stonemasonry School, the only one of its kind in Croatia and this part of Europe, whose work and experts have been praised across the globe.

Afterwards you will go on a tour of Pučišća, which was placed on the list of the 15 most beautiful villages in Europe that you should visit. This should come as no surprise, since it is situated in a gorgeous cove and dotted with white houses, which are characteristic of the village.

Next, you will leave for Pražnica, a small medieval village situated on the Brač plateau and surrounded with numerous pastures. It is famous for livestock farming and its stonemasonry workshop, which you will visit and learn about which materials and tools are frequently used in stonemasonry. You will also try domestic wine and liquor and national homemade cakes. Then visit Donji Humac, one of the oldest settlements on the island, where the prehistoric findings in Kopačina Cave, just above Humac, are still testifying about those times. It is located on top of a hill, approximately 7 km from Supetar. This place is very famous for its stonemasonry because it is surrounded with several quarries. Return to Postira. 

DAY 6 and DAY 7

Klis Fortress - Uskoks and the sight where Game of Thrones was filmed

Breakfast and overnight stay for two days. Enjoy the beautiful environment and relax. It's up to you how you want to spend your time but let us take you on Day 7 to an approximately 5-hour tour to Kliss Fortress. Due to its location on a pass that separates the mountains Mosor and Kozjak, the fortress served as a major source of defense in Dalmatia, especially against the Ottoman advance and has been a key crossroad between the Mediterranean belt and the Balkan rear.

Departure after breakfast from Postira to ferry port Supetar, tickets for the ferry included. Arrival to the port of Split and pick up by the local guide. Drive to the impressive Kliss Fortress which has been a defensive stronghold in the area for over two thousand years. Experience a special tour powered by the historical units - Uskoks from Klis. Game of Thrones set on Kliss Fortress featured Meereen, the city that Khaleesi conquers with her army of the Unsullied.

Tour to Ethno Agro Park where the host will welcome you with Dalmatian tapas, wine and olive oil. You will enjoy the authentic Dalmatian village with the beautiful botanical garden and traditional houses as museum. Return to ferry port Split, arrival to Postira in the afternoon.

DAY 8

Farewell to Brač

Enjoy your last breakfast on the island, at least regarding this trip. It’s time for hotel check-out. If you still have some spare time left, soak up a few rays, have a cup of coffee on one of the beautiful terraces in Postira and enjoy your final moments on the island before bidding it farewell. Parting is such sweet sorrow, which is why we invite you to come back for some more adventures on Croatian islands. 

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