September 8, 2026
Hvar Town is a port and resort town on the Croatian island of Hvar. Yachts fill its harbor in summer. Ferries connect the town with Split and other Croatian cities and islands. The entire historic core, a UNESCO-protected gem, remains almost perfectly preserved, giving an unbroken view into four centuries of Dalmatian Renaissance and Baroque splendor.
We took a catamarran from Split to Hvar and first dropped our bags off at luggage storage at our accommodation, Roko’s. Then we went around the corner from our accommodation to find the Venetian Lion of Hvar.
Venetian Lion of the Back Side of the Arsenal Building
Since it was hot, we took a break and had drinks at a lounge along the Hvar Town Promenade, and watched the ships go in and out.
Watching the Ships Go Out and In Along the Promenade
Hvar Town Walk
We started our Hvar Town Walk by visiting the Franciscan Church and Monastery, located south of Hvar Town off Beach Bay.
Franciscan Church and Monastery, Located Off Beach Bay
On the way, we saw the Fisherman Boy Bata Duje statue, some sunbathers, stations of the cross, a bust of a Bishop, and a beach.
Statue of Fisherman Boy Bata Duje
Sunbathers
One of Several Stations of the Cross
Bust of Fra Fulgencije Carev (1826–1901), a Franciscan friar,
Archbishop of Skopje, and Bishop of Hvar-Brač-Vis
Beach in Beach Bay
In front of the Franciscan church and monastery are a few old trees and a statue of a Kneeling St. Francis.
Old Trees in Front of the Franciscan Church and Monastery
Kneeling St. Francis Statue
Front Door – Franciscan Church
We visited the monastery cloister, a museum with a Last Supper painting and other artworks including sculptures by famous Croatian sculptors, and a courtyard with a 500-year old Cypress tree.
View of the Well in the Cloister of the Monastery
There was a sculpture of the Mother of God holding her dead son on her knees in the cloister – a masterpiece made in 1498 by sculptors Leonard and Petar Petrović
Scuplture of Mother of God holding her dead son on her knees
Experts attribute the Last Supper painting to the School of Palma di Giovane (1544-1628), or to the venetian painter Matteo Ingoli (1585-1631).
The Last Supper Painting
There were other artworks in the monastery museum.
Devotional Bust of Jesus Christ
Icon of the Black Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child with Two Angels by Nikola Firentinac (c. 1470)
Annunciation – Gilt Wooden Relief – 18th Century
St. Luke by Ivan Meštrović
Matija Gubec, a famous 16th-century Croatian revolutionary by Vanja Radauš
Diva Grabovčeva, female martyr by Kuzma Kovačić
Braid my hair, Mother by Frano Kršinić
The Judgment of the Sinner by Ivan Meštrović (c. 1943)
Crucifix by Ivica Tomičić-Tajnikov
Sculptures by Famous Croatian Sculptors
And the courtyard behind the monastery had a 500-year old Cypress tree and wonderful views.
500-Year Old Cypress Tree in the Courtyard
Views from the Courtyard
We made our way back along the Hvar Promenade to the main square of Hvar Town. On the way we saw the Španjola Fortress high on a hill.
Hvar Promenade
Španjola Fortress
We turned into St. Stephen’s Square (Trg Svetog Stjepana), and visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Stjepana).
St. Stephen’s Square (Trg Svetog Stjepana)
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Stjepana)
We started our tour of St. Stephen’s Cathedral at the main portal, with its bronze doors.
Main Portal
The bronze entrance doors combine religious themes with important elements of life on Hvar. On the right door, you’ll see a dove (representing peace and the Holy Spirit), the crucified Christ, fishermen (an actual part of Hvar life, but also representing the Church’s “fishers of men” evangelical philosophy), and a boat, sailing into the future (last panel not visible below). On the left door, top to bottom, you’ll see the Creation, Madonna and Baby Jesus surrounded by the circle of stars (representing the European Union—reflecting Croatians’ desire to be considered part of Europe), vineyards (both literal and as a symbol of heaven), and a procession of penitence, a fixture of life among religious locals (last panel not visible below).
Bronze Doors
The Interior of the cathedral had a large nave and several side altars and chapels.
Cathedral Nave
Side Altar
Behind the main altar are wooden choir stalls rescued from an earlier Gothic church that was destroyed during an Ottoman attack in 1571. There are two pulpits: the right one, with St. Paul and his sword, is for reading or singing the Epistles; the left one, with the eagle (representing St. John), is used for reading the Gospels.
Main Altar and Two Pulpits
In the chapel to the right of the main altar, the tabernacle embedded in the yellow marble “cloth” (under the big crucifix) holds an important piece of Hvar history: a crucifix that supposedly shed tears of blood on the eve of a major 1510 uprising of the plebeians against the patricians.
Chapel with Crucifix that Shed Tears of Blood
The chapel to the left of the main altar features the tomb of St. Prosperus, Hvar’s co-patron saint, who shares the credit with the more famous St. Stephen. People pray to Prosperus for good health. On his feast day, May 10, the lid is opened and you can see his preserved body. The figures flanking his tomb represent Faith and Strength.
Tomb of St. Prosperus
Before we left, we found the Altar of Luke, a 15th-century stone triptych and relief from the original Gothic church, which depicts saints John, Mark, and Luke (below) and the flogging of Christ (above).
Altar of Luke and Flogging of Christ (on top)
We then visited the Benedictine Convent (Benediktinski Samostan) and its Lace Museum.
Benedictine Convent and Lace Museum
On the way we saw a Venetian Palace and the Porta Maestra (Main Gate).
Venetian Palace and the Porta Maestra (Main Gate)
In front of the Benedictine Convent and Lace Museum is a statue of St. Benedict, reading the words ora et labora (pray and work).
Statue of St. Benedict in front of the Benedictine Convent and Lace Museum
The Lace Museum contains lace samples, some vestments made by the nuns, ancient kitchenware, a stone sink, a well and some amphora jugs.
Lace Samples
Bishops’ vestments (with the Baby Jesus below them wearing an agava-lace shirt)
Ancient kitchenware
Stone Sink
Well and some amphora jugs
We returned to the main square, turned right to see the Hvar Pillar, Loggia and the Clock Tower, and then made our way to a small park by the waterfront with a bust of Hvar native Ivan Vučetić, who pioneered the science of fingerprinting.
Pillar, Loggia and Clock Tower
Bust of Hvar native Ivan Vučetić, who pioneered the science of fingerprinting
Giant Fingerprint Nearby
View from the Waterfront Park
Our Hvar Town Walk is over.