A personal Hvar island odyssey with Prof. Marinko Petric

Join Hvar’s celebrated art historian on tour and for lunch – Full day private tour

Hvar has more UNESCO-protected cultural heritage traditions than any island in the world.  So if you are a lover of history, to get the very best out of this incredibly rich and diverse cultural destination, there is only one tour – and one man – that can show you more of it than anyone.

Join Hvar’s very own cultural ‘Indiana Jones’, Marinko Petric, art historian, professor and a living encyclopedia of Hvar’s history. Author of ”Hvar Tourism Memory book” and numerous scientific articles related to Hvar history, Marinko will guide you on a private journey into the past with facts, legends and secrets not found in any travel guide or magazine. Where doors may be closed to others, Hvar’s cultural custodian can not open them, but bring the entered room to life with facts, stories and legends known only by a few.

This memorable full day experience will not only expand your knowledge and deepen your appreciation of the island’s rich heritage and culture but also add a wonderful new dimension to your Hvar vacation.

Your day with Marinko includes a wonderful lunch, with wine at Lacman Family Winery In Selca.

TOUR PRICING

Price:
5-12 people: € 425 per person
2-4 people: € 450 per person

Min. pax:
2 people
If your group is larger, please ask us for a quote.

Price

From €425 per person

Why book with us?

– Unique experiences

– Stunning secret locations

– Best guides in the market

– Hand picked tours and activities

Want to know more?

Call us directly for more details: +385 91 9438 675

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Exploring the millennium

We start with the tour from the town of Hvar. We pick you up at your hotel, your villa, yacht or at the ferry port in Stari Grad. The program is as described below and includes all transfers, admission fees, and a stop for lunch.

The first part of this extraordinary tour discovering the fascinating history of Hvar town is dedicated to the beloved Hvar archaeologist and academic Dr. Grga Novak, knighted by Queen Elizabeth I, Prof. Novak also received many awards and important decorations from France and Italy. In addition to his honorary doctorates from many European universities, he was a member of the Royal Archaeological Society of London, a member of the famed Roman Accademia dei Lincei and a member of the Austrian Academy. Prof. Novak is most remembered as the single individual who discovered all of the fabulous treasures you will see on this memorable tour.

The essence of Hvar town is how much of its marvellous ensemble of Renaissance architecture is still so splendidly intact. The Renaissance stylistically marked the beginning of Hvar’s cultural blossoming ­ a flourishing period of development that lasted more than 400 years, until the18th century. Today, this legacy of stone, sculpture, painting and more is the world’s to enjoy, a legacy that gives a unique insight into the historical events and way of life from when Venice ruled supreme in this part of the world!

Our private walk will include visiting the oldest public theatre in Europe, dating back to 1612, as well as other exquisite Venetian, Napoleonic, and Austro­Hungarian structures. We’ll also visit sites that tell heroic tales of military encounters with the Turks, Russians and English. Hvar had many visitors over the years, and Prof. Petric has a story about each of them.

But Hvar is far more than the island’s most celebrated landmarks….the island is filled with mystery and magic-­those quirky footnotes to history that make this program such an indelible experience. Did you know that the inventor of modern fingerprinting was a Hvaranin?

Together we’ll discover who Ivan Vucetic was and how his invention changed the face of crime forever!

Hidden inland villages, Stari Grad, Jelsa and Vrboska

Our island odyssey also includes hidden inland villages, the once­ bustling centre of island commercial fishing as well as Stari Grad, claimed by some as the oldest city in Croatia, founded in 384 B.C. by the Greeks who began their agrarian reform here.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ager fertile plain that lies to the east of Stari Grad is the site of oldest known agricultural land division on the planet ­ its original cadastral plots have been preserved for almost 2,000 years! Arguably the town’s most famous resident is Petar Hektorovic, whose tvrdalj (“manor house) we will visit. Hektorovic, a Renaissance writer and poet, is best remembered for his book, Fishing and Fisherman’s Talk which is a treasure of maritime and zoological terminology that more than 400 years after it was written, is part of the everyday Croatian language of men and women who make their living from the sea.

We’ll also visit Stari Grad’s Dominican Monastery (circa 1482) which houses a rare 16thC Tintoretto, The Mourning of Christ. Then it’s off to the charming seaside village of Jelsa for a visit to the konoba of one of Croatias’s leading boutique wine makers, Ivo Dubrokovic. We’ll learn why his wine is so sought after and enjoy a glass or two of his award­-winning vintages.

Afterwards, it’s time to enjoy a delicious lunch with fine island wine at one of the island’s best seaside restaurants (or if you prefer, we can have wonderful lunch with wine, in a rustic konoba situated right in the middle of an olive grove!)

Our Personal Hvar Island Odyssey is your private “backstage invitation” to the extravagantly rich history of Hvar!

 

ITINERARY

Meeting point:

we will pick you up at your hotel, villa, private accommodation, ferry or catamaran from Split, where your boat is moored or meet you at agreed pick-up location. We will agree on this when the tour is booked.

Departure time:

Mornings 9 – 12 noon, afternoons 2 – 4 PM. This can also be arranged at a time that is convenient for you, so please ask us what your unique requirements are and we will be happy to get back to you with the particulars and our price.

End location:

We will end this tour where you wish ­at the marina, your hotel, villa or private accommodation. Just let us know

Duration:

This is a full day program

What’s included:

The program as described, pick up, guide/driver, car transfer, museum tickets, lunch with wine in an olive grove.

What’s extra:

Items purchased for personal use, gratuities to guides/driver

Transportation:

Comfortable air-conditioned 8 seat van or Toyota Land Cruiser or Mitsubishi Pajero ­both 4WD vehicles.

 

Tour type: Cultural, Traditional, Nature, Youth and Family
Duration: full­-day program
Categories: Culture, Art & History

Activity level: Light
Disabilities friendly: Yes
Kid friendly: Yes

CANCELLATION POLICY

  • Free cancellation – Full refund until 7 days before the tour
  • Free cancellation – Full refund for any reason related with COVID 19 **
  • 50% refund until 4 days before the tour
  • No refund for cancellation less than 4 days before the tour

** CANCELATIONS CAUSED BY COVID

FULL REFUND in case of any reason related with COVID 19 (travel ban, infection, any objective reason that prevents service delivery) – upon presented evidence/proof/official medical COVID test report.

What our travellers are saying about Hvar Tours?

Such a unique experience

‘’Everything was fantastic…… The food at the abandoned village was great, and it was such a unique experience. Our tour guide for the day was knowledgeable and friendly, and we learned a lot about Hvar and Croatian wine… We’d highly recommend Hvar Tours for anyone looking for a daytime excursion in Hvar.’’

Tory Morris

Rated 4.5/5

Above and beyond the normal tour

“We booked with this company 3 times and each one was better and better. Ivana was super helpful and accommodating… Our guide Leo was outstanding and incredibly knowledgeable about wine and the history of the island. He went above and beyond the normal tour and showed us significant historical sights, stopping for us to take photos whenever we wanted … each vineyard has a fascinating story behind it … stunning hill-top views of other islands … These tours were above and beyond what I would have expected.”

Christine M.

Rated 4.5/5

A travel through time

“From breathtaking sceneries to amazing wine, Boris takes you on a travel through time! Not to miss during your trip on Hvar if you want to get a real flavor of the island!! Thank you both for the great time, we’ll definitely come back.’”

Charlotte & Yuri

Rated 4.5/5

Unmatched thoughtfulness and care

“The thoughtfulness and care that Hvar Tours put into planning this day for us was unmatched. Our guides were so knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about their homeland. They shared music, culture, food, wine, and love for this precious island with us. We left with full hearts and memories we will cherish forever.”

Li Casanova

Rated 4.5/5

Great and informative tour!

‘’ We really loved Violet – she was friendly and you could tell she was passionate and knowledgeable …The drive was beautiful – high up in the rocky mountains of Hvar, away from the hustle … We stopped on the way at a scenic overlook and it was beautiful. We visited one of the top three wineries in Hvar and the tasting was done in a cave. Pretty cool … We also got to try 4 different kinds of olive oils with a side of cheese and bread…. the atmosphere of the wine cellar (think romantic candle light surrounded by oak barrels) …’’

Christina N.

Rated 4.5/5

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