Stari Grad, Ancient Greek settlement on Hvar Island, Croatia.
Stari Grad is a historic settlement on Hvar Island along the Dalmatian coast, sitting on a bay on the northern shore with agricultural fields and Mediterranean vegetation surrounding the area. The town spreads across a flat plain backed by hills, connecting the port with the farmland that extends inland from the waterfront.
Colonists from the Greek city of Paros founded this settlement around 384 BC, transforming it into a major trading hub for maritime commerce in ancient times.
The town preserves structures from the Renaissance period, including fortified residences with their surrounding gardens and a Dominican monastery. These buildings shape the character of the old town and show how people lived here across different eras.
The area is best explored on foot, as roads are narrow and wind gently through the settlement. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and take time to wander slowly through the old streets and out toward the surrounding fields.
The surrounding fields still follow the same layout that Greek settlers established more than 2,000 years ago. This ancient agricultural pattern was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, making it an unusually enduring example of land use from classical times.
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