Heritage Tours on Foot and by Car: Secret Hvar

Away from the beaches, Hvar has a rich heritage worth investigating. Whether you are looking to wander around the old buildings of Hvar Town or interested in combining the sites of Hvar, Stari Grad, Vrboska and Jelsa, one outstanding agency to look into is Secret Hvar. 

Often seen along the back roads in a red Nissan Patrol in the hills of Hvar on his signature Off-Road Jeep Safari, Sinisa Sime Matkovic-Mikulcic's (just call him Steve) knowledge of the history and traditions of the island, combined with his ability to explain it all clearly, is second to none. A keen collector of Dalmatian postcards, Steve is passionate about the island's history, and his enthusiasm is infectious, resulting in an excellent tour of Hvar's past. While everything can be organised on a bespoke basis, Steve offers two types of heritage tour:

The Hvar Island Tour

Departing from Hvar Town, the tour heads to the oldest town in Croatia, Stari Grad, founded in 384 BC by the Greeks, and close to the UNESCO-protected Hora, or Stari Grad Plain, an 80-hectare agriculrure colony which has been cultivated for 2,400 years. The tour takes in the old streets of the ancient town of Stari Grad, including guided tours of two of its most important buildings, the Dominican Monastery and the Hektorovic Palace. 

Continue on to so-called Little Venice, the charming small town of Vrboska, on Hvar's northern coast, where a tour of the Church of St. Lawrence awaits, including one of the finest collections of Renaissance art on the island.  A stunning coastal drive to the town of Jelsa, which was founded in the 14th Century is next on the list, before a leisurely return to Hvar through the fields and stone villages of inland Hvar. 

The Hvar Heritage Walking Tour

Sinisa's intricate knowledge of the history of his home town makes him ideally suited to guide you through the fascinating history of Hvar Town on an engaging walking tour of the main sights, and he imparts many anecdotes, legends and stories to accompany the viewing of the  historic buildings.

Included in his standard walking tour of Hvar Town are visits to the harbour of Hvar, once one of Venice's most important ports, the main square, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Arsenal, the first public theatre in Europe (400 years old this year), the city loggia, Franciscan Monastery with its refectory and painting of the Last Supper, the numerous palaces of the town, and the Spanish Fortress. Check out the video below for an introduction to the heritage of Hvar Town. 

For more information about both tours, and to book, visit the Secret Hvar website or email Sinisa on