Jelsa (island Hvar) Locate On Map

Jelsa (Croatia, Central Dalmatia, Island Hvar) is a town on Island Hvar and it is located on the north part of Hvar.

CULTURE & HISTORY

The Island of Hvar, including Jelsa, has numerous cultural and old monuments - churches, town squares, local parks, caves, and Hvar's Ager (valley). The Island of Hvar, with its cultural and historical heritage, is one of the richest regions of the whole Adriatic coast and Croatia.

ANCIENT CITY OF JELSA

Even today, there is a protective wall on the west side of the Gradina peninsula. It stretches from Mina beach to Bocic, dividing the peninsula. In the ancient city of Jelsa (Civitas Vetus Ielsae) there is the cemetery, built on a place smaller than the ancient city. It was once the site of an Augustinian monastery that existed there from 1605 - 1787. Only one church with a bell tower dating back to 1605 has been saved.

There are several churches and places to see in the town of Jelsa like:
• St. Mary's church which dates back from 1331year. In 1535 the original early Gothic church was reinforced and expanded.
• Our Lady of Health Church was made in 1535 year at the top of Racic hill. The hill itself offers a beautiful sight of Jelsa's valley and the Port.
• Public garden is one of the largest and most beautiful parks in Dalmatia were created in 1870 on alluvial terrain. The large poplars, pine and palm trees, acacias and oleanders and other Mediterranean plants are grown there.
• Pjaca is the square right in the center of Jelsa. It slowly developed from the XVI ct. to the beginning of the XX ct. On the west side of the square there is a natural water spring.

TOURISM

The early signs of tourism on the Island reach far back into history which is best seen by the remains of rustic villas (farm buildings and country houses) all over Hvar's Agar (valley). During the Middle Ages the Island was visited by many adventurers and archaeologists that came to study plants, minerals and ancient monuments.
Organized tourism began in 1868 with The Hygienic Society of Hvar headed by Bishop Juraj Dubokovic. The first hotel was opened in Samohod-Dubokovics' house. The first arrival of foreign guests is considered as the beginning of modern and organized tourism on the Island.

The oldest hotel in Jelsa is Jadran Hotel. It began with work in 1911 and had 14 stylishly furnished bedrooms, a restaurant, a beer hall and a reading salon. Many famous guests have stayed at the Hotel including Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State… Jelsa's first guidebook was published in 1913.

At the end of the 1960's the construction of hotels, board and lodging, apartments, restaurants, discotheques and other tourist facilities meant a sudden development in tourism and it became the main branch of the economy on the Island.

SCENERY

Just like the rest of the Island of Hvar, the area of Jelsa has a beautiful coastline with many small islands, coves and headlands where guests can relax and enjoy themselves.

The coves and headlands are great for swimming and sunbathing - sand, pebble or stone block beaches are surrounded by thick pine-forest that provide shade on hot summer days.

In 1991 the Island of Hvar signed the Declaration of the Central Dalmatian Islands, an Eco-clean Zone. Jelsa and its surroundings are like a sunny garden filled with magnificent smell of an unpolluted sea, whit clear, blue skies.

SPORT

Jelsa has a sports places (basketball, volleyball and other sports) with an outdoor football field. All inhabitants and visitors to the Island are welcome to use the facility. The sports hall as well as the tennis courts and mini-golf courses built near the hotels offer visitors a large list of sporting activities and recreational services.

There are agencies where you can rent motorboats, speedboats, bicycles, motorcycles or cars. You can find the local diving school and other sports and recreational options.

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