Hvar town has the most perfectly preserved Town Square from the Venetian era outside Dubrovnik. It plays the role of sitting room to the town with the Cathedral at one end and the Venetian Theatre over the boathouse at the other. Set within the 13th century town the modern house has beautiful views of the port and enjoys a garden, with shady vines, bougainvillea, pomegranate and lemon trees, to sunbathe and relax in. The town attracts the glitterati from all over the world who arrive in spectacular yachts for the stunning architecture and seafood restaurants. The town centre is a car free zone making it a safe playground for children who can explore the winding cobbled streets, the Venetian Palaces and the busy harbour. Inland the mountains rise to 2000 feet with hill towns set among the vineyards, olive groves and the fields of Lavender. The scent of lavender greets the seaborne visitors.
The best swimming is near the Amphora hotel where there is plenty of room and excellent restaurants for snacks and cappuccino. The island has the highest number of sunshine hours of any Adriatic resort. Due to its position well away from the mainland it also has pollution free seas. The town itself has a southerly aspect sheltered by the mountains to the North. The Pakleni are a necklace of islands directly to the south which shelter the port from high seas.
The location is first class being within moments of the stunning Venetian Square with its coffee shops, restaurants and bars. It is also only 5 minutes walk to the nearest beach. On nearby beaches there is sailing, water skiing, banana rides and windsurfing available. There is a new service London to Split starting summer 2006. Easyjet has now also started flights to Split. There are 3 sailings each day from Split to Hvar Town for pedestrians. There are also regular ferries to Stari Grad which is the deep water port for the island for those with a car. A car is not essential but it does make it easier to explore the island. It is 70 kilometres long and there are wonderful beaches and villages to visit on the coast as well as stunning scenery inland with walking and mountain biking.
