Stari Grad: UNESCO Heritage and Cultural Landscape

Stari Grad combines UNESCO World Heritage with a layered cultural history: alongside historic buildings, an ancient cultural landscape also shapes the destination. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, the landscape, architecture, and archaeological themes can offer different ways to plan your days here. The places and routes below provide specific starting points.

Cultural Landscape and UNESCO Heritage

The historic center of Stari Grad and the Stari Grad Plain were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008. An ancient Greek system of land division has been preserved on the plain: geometric plots are bounded by dry-stone walls. Since Greek times, agriculture there has focused on grapes and olives. Together, the shape of the plots, their stone boundaries, and the crops tell the story of the connection between agriculture and the cultural landscape. If you are interested in the landscape, you can consider it a distinct part of the cultural heritage alongside the buildings.

Museum, Tvrdalj, and Archaeological Themes

The Stari Grad Museum is located in Biankini Palace, west of Tvrdalj. The palace was built by the Biankini brothers in 1896. The second floor displays works by four 20th-century artists from Stari Grad. The archaeological exhibition Faros–Faria–Stari Grad explores ancient Faros from the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD. The Abdevnor Room tells the story of a Roman merchant ship that sank in Duboka. A large part of its cargo and wooden hull has been preserved.

Tvrdalj Petra Hektorovića is a fortified summer residence associated with the writer Petar Hektorović. Tvrdalj was designed as a small, self-contained world for fish, birds, plants, and people. Keep the season in mind when planning your visit: Tvrdalj is open to visitors from May to October.

Churches and Architectural History

The Church of St. Stephen is a Baroque building; construction began in 1605. It contains eleven Baroque altars created by Venetian artists. The Church of St. John is much older: it dates from the 5th or 6th century and features figurative mosaics. If you are comparing architectural history and art, these two churches represent different periods: a Baroque building with its altars and an early Christian church with mosaics.

Circular Routes and Swimming Areas

The Kabal 706 circular route begins in the center of Stari Grad and runs mainly across the Kabal Peninsula. At 24.7 kilometers long, it combines paved roads and gravel paths. Its length and surface give you specific criteria for planning your day; use these details to assess whether the route suits your plans. The Purkin Kuk 707 circular route ends in Stari Grad. Check the trail conditions before setting out.

Several swimming areas are close to the town center. You can reach Bonj on foot along the sea or by bicycle. As route conditions can change, check them before setting out. A specific date can also shape your travel plans: Stari Grad celebrates the feast of St. Roko every year on August 16 with a procession through the town. Check the program for the relevant year before your trip.

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