Page 129 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

D ALM A TIA  127

sheltered bay. The exterior of A Dominican Monastery,
the church of the Annunciation founded in 1475, stands on a
of Mary (Gospa od Blagovijesti) headland at the edge of the
is Baroque and the interior is town. The beautiful church is
decorated in the Rococo style. decorated with paintings,
Nerežišća, in the centre of including a Virgin with Saints
the island, was for a long period attributed to Tintoretto. A rich
its main town. The Governor’s treasury includes liturgical
Palace, the Loggia and a objects.
pedestal with the lion of From Bol you can climb up
St Mark are signs of its former Mount St Vitus (Vidova Gora),
status. Also inland is Škrip, a 2-hour walk to one of the
probably the site of the first highest peaks in the Dalmatian
settlement on the island and islands, at 778 m (2,552 ft).
the presumed birthplace of Hidden in a ravine west of Pleasure boats and swimmers on the
Helen, mother of Emperor Mount St Vitus is Blaca southern coast of Brač
Constantine. The church and Hermitage (Pustinja Blaca), a
a painting by Palma il Giovane 16th-century fortified monastery with stone houses straggling
on the main altar are dedicated clinging to the rocky slopes. along the sides of a deep bay.
to Helen. A fortified building Now a museum, the hermitage The quaint port of Sumartin,
houses Brač Museum and contains an absorbing collection on the southeastern corner
exhibits archaeological finds, of religious relics together with of the island, is where ferries
evidence of humankind’s astronomical and other scientific from the mainland resort of
ancient presence on the island. equipment left behind by Makarska arrive. It was founded
The major attraction at Bol, former monks. Walking to Blaca by refugees from the Makarska
on the southern coast, is the is a popular excursion, if a region fleeing the Turks in 1645.
long beach on the western side somewhat hot and dry trek in There is a fine Franciscan
of town (Zlatni rat, meaning summer – it can be approached monastery, the foundations of
Golden Horn), a triangular spit from the north via Nerezišća or which were laid by the poet
of shingle which reaches out from the southeast from Bol. Andrija Kačić Miošić.
into the sea and changes shape There are further attractions
with the seasonal tides. Zlatni along the northern coast and to E Brač Museum
rat gets extremely busy in the east of the island. Along the Škrip. n (021) 637 092.
summer, with excursion boats coast from Supetar, quiet Open summer: 8am–8pm daily;
bringing tourists here from Lovrečina Bay is over-looked by winter: by appt.
resorts all over Brač and from the ruins of the 5th–6th century E Branislav Dešković Gallery
nearby Hvar island too. It is also Basilica of St Lawrence, a Put bolskih pomoraca bb, Bol.
a popular spot for windsurfing. pilgrimage site. Lying at the end n (021) 637 092. Open mid-Jun–
Bol itself is an attractive town, of a long sea inlet, Pučišća is mid-Sep: 9am–noon, 6–11pm Tue–
arranged around a picturesque the centre of the island’s stone Sun; mid-Sep–mid-Jun: 9am–2pm
harbour. Occupying a water- quarrying industry, active since Tue–Fri.
front building, the Branislav at least Roman times. The blocks
Dešković Gallery displays were loaded onto ships at the E Dominican Monastery
paintings and sculpture by port. Povlja, further east still, is Anđelka Rabadana 4, Bol. n (021)
some of Croatia’s leading one of the island’s most 778 000. Open 10am–noon,
20th-century artists. charming former fishing ports, 5–8pm daily.

Bol’s famous golden beach, changing shape with the tides
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp228–30 and pp240–45

126-127_EW_Croatia.indd 127 20/10/16 12:32 pm