Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Hvar Fortress (Fortica Hvar)
Visiting this mighty castle above the Old Town is a good excuse for a sturdy 20- to
30-minute hike to break up your lazy Hvar day.
Cost and Hours:
25 kn, daily June-mid-Sept 8:00-22:00, Easter-May and mid-Sept-Oct
8:30-20:00, Nov-Easter much shorter hours and sometimes closed.
Getting There:
From the Old Town, hike up the steep street called Groda to the road
passing above town. Once on that road, look for the nearby gate with the picture of a castle
for another steep hike up a switchback trail (stay on the main path—side paths that seem
like shortcuts are actually dead-ends).
Visiting the Fortress:
This huge fortification was built over several generations, begin-
ning in the 13th century. In the 14th century, Spanish engineers did their part to bulk up the
fortress (giving it the nickname “Španjola”). In 1571, the townspeople fled here for sanctu-
aryduringanattackbytheOttomans(ontheirwaytothefamousBattleofLepanto),butjust
a few years later, the fortress was devastated when lightning hit a gunpowder store. In the
19th century, the occupying Austrians put their own touches on the castle. Today it's used
as a catering facility and tourist attraction.
