Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, situated in central Dalmatia just in front of Split. With its surface area of 395 km2, it is the largest island in Dalmatia and the third largest island in the Adriatic Sea. With around 2700 sun hours a year, Island of Brač belongs to the sunniest part of the Adriatic, which places it somewhere between Split and Hvar. Island of Brač is best known for its beautiful bitches, olive oil, vine and white stone. In the 20th century, stones from Brač were used in the construction of the White House in Washington.
The entire island should be declared as a unique cultural, historical and natural park. Especially its southern side between Vidova Gora, Zlatni Rat in Bol, and the Blaca Desert. Desert Blaca form a one-of-a-kind area, blending together the Brač of fishing, agriculture and shepherding. There are plenty of places to enjoy the bliss of solitude and peace, but there are also exceptional social events, dancing, music and sports.
BRAČ BEACHES
Island has many natural sights, but beautiful beaches are part of Island Brač that takes everyone’s breath away. If you take a road trip or boat trip through the island, you will definitely find hidden bays and beaches as there are many untouched beauties. The most famous beach on the island is Golden horn located in Bol, but if you want to visit more here are some suggestions: Murvica beach, Lovrečina beach, Likva beach, beach Tičja luka as well as Supetar beaches. Here is more information about these.
GOLDEN HORN
The Zlatni Rat Beach, also known as the Golden Horn beach, is one of the most famous beaches on Island of Brač. Packed with beauty, Bol still adorns the symbol of the Adriatic, which is located west of the place, about 2 kilometers from Bol – the wonderful beach Zlatni rat. This one of the most beautiful natural attractions stretches like a tongue almost half a kilometer into the depths of the sea. It grows by applying and depositing small pebbles around the submarine reef. The peak of the Zlatni rat changes shape with the help of waves and sea currents. If you are visiting Island of Brač this beach should be on your visit list. Next to the beach there are beach bars, food stands and natural shade so you can refresh during hot summer days.
MURVICA BEACH
This is another famous and very beautiful beach of the Island of Brač that is situated in a small town called Murvica. This pebble beach can be reached by car by very short drive from Bol. Once you get close to the beach you will find a few parking spots, however, you will have to walk a little bit to reach it. This is much smaller and calmer beach than Golden horn, so if you want to escape hectic life and relax this is perfect beach for you.
SUPETAR BEACHES
Supetar – the beautiful and only city on the Island of Brač is located on the north side of the island in the bay of Sv. Petar. The town is surrounded by beautiful natural resources, bays and beaches. Some of the beaches where you can enjoy the beautiful clear and blue sea are: Babin laz, Tri mosta, Acapulco and Pliva. Beach Babin laz is located 3km from Supetar. It is pebble beach and it’s great for families as there is a lot of activities you can participate. At our campsite you can rent beach chairs and parasols as well as sups. If you want to refresh you can always visit the beach bar. Tri Mosta beach is the main city beach in Supetar. It is located not far from the center and very easily accessible. Due to the rich offer of content and beautiful pebbles, it is suitable for family vacations. Another famous beach in Supetar is Acapulco beach. The pebble beach is very clean, but it offers hardly any natural shade however you can cool down in the beach bar. Pliva is a beach in the western part towards Mirca. It consists of two bays, Vela Luka, which has a pebble beach, and Mala Luka, which is deeper and sandier. It is great beach because you can choose the one you prefer and it also have a lot of natural shade.
LOVREČINA BEACH
Lovrečina beach is one of the few sandy beaches on Island of Brač, located close to town Postira. You can reach Lovrečina with the boat or with the car as there is a lot of parking spaces. Lovrečina is perfect for families with children because the sea is not very deep and kinds can play in sand. There is also a beach bar if you want to relax in the shade. Next to the beach, there is an archaeological site with basilica of St. Lawrence.
SUPETAR
Supetar – the beautiful and only on the Island of Brač is located on the north side of the island in the bay of Sv. Petar (after whom it was named) and today with its 4000 inhabitants it is the largest settlement on the island. It is the administrative center of the island and is connected to all places by bus lines, while it is connected to Split by ferry. The city is one of the main tourist centers of Dalmatia and with its rich history dating back to Roman times, it attracts more and more guests. Excursions are also organized from Supetar, so after visiting these attractions you can easily start searching for new ones! One of the main attractions is the Supetar waterfront, which with its long promenade and beautiful views leaves guests breathless. It is a great place to enjoy Dalmatian specialties in many restaurants or drinks and you could also have some ice cream. As you walk along the waterfront, you will come across the Church of the Annunciation, built in the 17th century. Next to the church you will find a small museum called Parish Museum of St. Peter. Within the program of Supetar Summer there are numerous exhibitions, concerts, festivals, folklore and klapa evenings, fishing festivals, drama performances, literary meetings, presentations, etc. are organized so find something you will enjoy and join us.
SUTIVAN
Sutivan, or as its locals call it Stivan, is located on the northwestern part of the island of Brač, 7 km west of Supetar. The buildings of Sutivan date back to the time of Diocletian. The place was named after the church of St. John the Baptist, which was built on the foundations of an early Christian Basilica from the 6th century Renaissance palace, summer houses in the Baroque style with typical Dalmatian stone houses make the view of this place irresistible. Sutivan is known for its hospitality and numerous pebble beaches where many tourists can find peace. An attractive picnic area near Sutivan is the Sutivan Nature Park great for families with children as there are playing parks and farm animals that kids can enjoy. Every July in Sutivan is held the festival of extreme sports “Vanka regule”, which has already become world famous. Sutivan is also bike-friendly and you can enjoy many more activities here.
PUČIŠĆA
Pučišća town is located on the north coast of the island, has a mild climate and is a great place to relax. This, along with Supetar, is the largest place on the island and is located at the bottom of a deep bay that separates into two: Pučiški dolac and Stipanska bay. Today it has a population of just over 1,700. Peek with us into the place of beautiful beaches, green nature and source of Brač white stone. Pučišća is known for its rich history but also a long tradition of stonemasonry. Legend has it that the White House in Washington was built of Brač stone harvested from the Pučišća quarry. Many sights are made of Pučišća stone, and Pučišća itself was home to many artists. Today there is a stone museum located in the high school of stonemasonry. In addition to the historical sites in Pučišća, you can enjoy beautiful bays, crystal clear sea, Brač specialties and beautiful nature. If you are a sports fan, there are cycling trails, windsurfing, paragliding, sea skiing, diving, etc. nearby. Some of the most famous beaches are St. Rok beach, Pučišća beach, Luka beach and Lučica beach. During the summer, various concerts, workshops, theater performances and other cultural and educational events are held in Pučišća.
BRAČ STONE
Exploitation, ie picking of white Brač stone, began in ancient times on the northern side in the western part of the island near Škrip and Splitska in the quarries of Plata, Rasoha and Stražišće. These quarries were later used to build Salona and Diocletian’s Palace. Apart from the Salon and Diocletian’s Palace, the stone from these quarries, which has retained the name Diocletian’s Quarries to this day, was used for other construction purposes in the then great Roman province of Dalmatia. on the island of Brač, most of the buildings were built of white, Brač stone. The pearl of the island – Blaca was built entirely of stone that was located in the area of the “desert”. But the Brač white stone was used not only for construction on the island but throughout Croatia, but also in the world.
BOL
At the foot of Vidova Gora, the highest peak of Brač (778 m), also the highest peak of the Adriatic islands, lies the oldest coastal settlement on Brač – Bol. The place on the south side of the island was once a place of winegrowers, fishermen, and sailors, while today it is a popular tourist center. The history of Bol goes deep into the past, as evidenced by various monuments and numerous archaeological finds. Some of the monuments you can see are the early Christian sarcophagi, the pre-Romanesque church of St. Ivan and Tudor, the bishop’s residence, the church of Our Lady of Mercy, a fortified Gothic mansion. A Renaissance Baroque palace with a gallery of contemporary Croatian art “Branislav Drašković” and the local church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Dominican convent houses a museum with a rich archaeological collection. Also, don’t forget to visit Murvica, a small village surrounded by vineyards and some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Walking through the waterfront you will come across numerous restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy specialties. With many discos and clubs, you will be able to enjoy the nightlife, if you are more of the calmer type Bol offers relaxing moments with Dalmatian klapa song, performances by famous opera singers, theater performances and art exhibitions of famous artists.
POSTIRA
On the northern coast of the island of Brač is located a small fishing town Postira, a few kilometers from Supetar. Numerous stone houses and narrow streets reveal the pristine Dalmatian ambiance. Rich offer of accommodation in hotels, apartments and rooms, along the unavoidable nearby bays Lovrečina and Konopjikova, Postira is a tourist destination where you can relax body and soul. Postira restaurants and taverns will make sure that with Mediterranean cuisine and quality Brač wines, your experience is complete. In Postira you can find a local store where you can buy famous olive oil and many sorts of vines (most famous Plavac mali). Cultural tourism is an important part of Postira’s tourist offer. As many as 3 archeological sites with remains from different historical periods have been found in their vicinity. The most interesting is Lovrečina, which, apart from being a valuable archeological site, is also known as one of the favorite sandy beaches on Brač. Another one is locality Mirje. When in Postira you should definitely visit the parish church of St. John the Baptist and the birth house of Vladimir Nazor a very famous Croatian writer.
FERRIES FROM SPLIT TO BRAČ
From ancient times, Brac is connected by boat lines. Before the construction of large passenger ships, people came ashore in small wooden boats. With the development of shipbuilding, the first passenger ships appeared, steamships, which connected Brač and Split, and older people called them “vapor”. The former “steamers” that came once a week have today been replaced by ferries that sail daily and more frequently. Sea transport services are provided by the company “Jadrolinija“. “Jadrolinija” connects Split and Supetar, Split and Bol and Split and Milna with numerous lines of ferries and catamarans. Brač can be reached by ferry from Makarska, which docks in the ferry port Sumartin. Ferry lines increase during the season so there is no fear that you will not be able to get to Brač! You can see the timetable and ticket prices at the link: https://www.jadrolinija.hr/en/ferry-croatia
BRAČ ISLAND AIRPORT
The idea of opening an airport on the island appeared in the 90s and was realized in 1992. It was inaugurated on May 6, 1993. The airport is equipped to receive and dispatch passenger aircraft with up to 100 seats. The airport is located 15 kilometers from the town of Bol, and you can find buses that transport guests to the desired destinations. See more about the airport on the page: https://www.airport-brac.hr/en/home/
BLACA DESERT
The Croatian coast hides many historical monuments that show us past times, so many of our islands hide historical pearls that could tell us many stories, the island of Brač hides a monument that is very unique. The Blaca Desert is a famous museum on the south coast of the island of Brač, between the towns of Bol and Milna, which in the past was a monastery for Glagolitic priests, an observatory and today is a museum institution. The Blaca Desert is not an ordinary “desert” but was named after an isolated area in which hermit monks created communities that could dedicate themselves to prayer and spiritual life in peace. It was formed from a small cave “Ljubitovica” from which the priests built a monastery and a church and turned the forest around the monastery into vineyards and olive groves. Since 1994, the Blaca Desert has been operating as a museum institution within the Brač Cultural Center. Within the museum, there is a monastery and a church. In the monastery – “the desert apartment” there are salons with libraries and a piano, study rooms and musical instruments, but also fireplaces, open fireplaces with smoke where meat was dried, bread ovens and other storages. You can reach Blaca by car to Dragovode and after parking, hike down to the monastery on the marked path. (Note: the monastery is 20–40 minutes away, and comfortable and sporty clothes and shoes are recommended.) Opening hours and ticket prices can be found on the link: http://czk-brac.hr/index.php/radno-vrijeme
OLIVE OIL BRAČ
Croatian olive oil is amongst the best ones in the world, for which there are many different indicators. Over the last decades, olive oil has also become an agricultural hit of Croatian tourism, and increased cooperation of olive growers and local caterers is noticed. Olive groves, along with viticulture, are the most important branch of agriculture in Dalmatia. From a historical view, it is evident that olive and olive oil are inextricably linked with Dalmatia. Throughout the past, olive oil meant the survival of people in this area. Economic because a wine was a significant source of income, and physical, as it was almost the only fat in their diet. In the cellars of Diocletian’s Palace, an oil production plant dates back to the 11th century. Island of Brač has a long history of making olive oil and is part of the tradition. Most of the local people have fields filled with olive trees that they take care of and later turn into oil. On the island in the small village called Škrip you can find an Oilve oil museum. The museum of oil exhibits olive mill, olive press, spindle for tightening press screw, bags, fireplace for heating the water and all traditional tools for transport, production and storage of olive oil. You can also see pictures and hear stories about long tradition of oil making. In the museum, you can taste oil and try some traditional food.