Tvrdalj Castle, Renaissance castle in Stari Grad, Croatia.
Tvrdalj Castle is a fortified Renaissance residence on Hvar island featuring a seawater pool in its central courtyard. The complex includes living quarters, a tower with a dovecote, and a fish pond, with buildings serving both residential and defensive purposes.
Petar Hektorovic built this fortification during the 16th century to protect against Ottoman attacks on Hvar island. The structure reflects how local nobles defended their communities through fortified residences.
The walls contain Latin and Croatian inscriptions, with the Croatian texts representing some of the earliest surviving examples of written language. Visitors can see these historical texts while exploring the complex and understand the importance of these early language records.
The complex is easily accessible on foot and offers various areas to explore, including the water basin and garden areas. Morning or late afternoon visits tend to be less crowded and allow for better viewing.
The castle features a sophisticated seawater system that maintains a constant water level in the central fish pool through underground channels. This hydraulic engineering demonstrates Renaissance-era technical sophistication.
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