Selca (Puntinak), Brac

The municipality Selca is located in the eastern part of the island of Brac, 36 kilometers from Supetar.

It is formed of three tourist villages: Selca (Puntinak), Sumartin and Povlja. Beside the rich cultural history and the attractive natural beauty Selca also offers 1 400 beds in private accommodation.

The first monument to dedicated to russian writer Lav Tolstoj in the world was established in 1911 in Selca. It is situated in the park Tolstoj.

At the end of the 19th century lived in Selca the Slovakian writer Matej Bencur - known under the pseudonym Martin Kukucin, author of the roman, "Dom v strani" - wrote about the then events on the island Brac.

The famous poetical manifestation "Croatia rediviva" is organized every year in the first weekend after the local celebartion of Madonna of Karmel/ Gospa od Karmela (July 16th). There meet numerous poets from the whole Croatia.

 

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Sutivan, Brac island

Sutivan is a small island-municipality located on the northwest seaside of Brac in front of Split. It is only 13 km far away from Split and has an uninterrupted connection with it since its founding. While the Roman emperor Diocletian built his palace in Split, one of his dignitaries built his own under the today court Kavanjinovi dvori. We can speak about a 1700-anniversary of life in the village which is called nowadays Sutivan - it was probably named after St. John the Baptist (sv. Ivan Krstitelj).

Today Sutivan is a small and silent village with a Mediterranean atmosphere and beautiful beaches with surrounding forests, while the promenade goes from the little harbour Lucica to the bay Likve, Prbuje, Stinive, Stipanske, Male Tihe and the harbour Vicja luka. There are the most clear bathing places, where every guest can find only peace, physical and psychical health and care freeness. Sutivan has about 1000 inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Sutivan are historically connected to agriculture, fishing and seamanship. The agriculture is quite developed. A reason for that are the fertile fields and the diligent hands of the domestic population. Sutivan is surrounded with arranged olive-plantations, vineyards and mandarin- fields to which you come by regular roads. The pedestrian and bicycle-paths are ideal for sport and recreation. In the little harbour there is less and less fishing, and there are more and more sport- boats. Once there swayed the masts of big sailing-ships which sailed to Venice and over Otranto.

You should definitely visit the house-fortress of Jakov Natalis-Bozicevic, built in 1505 at the bottom of the bay from the early age. The castle Kastil Marijanovic from the 17th century is preserved in the eastern part of the harbour. Very near in the same complex is the beautiful and harmonious summer cottage of Kavanjin built from 1690 to 1705 with a baroque garden.

There are a few well preserved economical objects around the summer cottage. It is significant to mention the complex of houses of the families Ilic-Definis, Ivanovic, Luksic and the Townhall. The cultural monuments in Sutivan are grouped around two churches - the old and the new one. On the cape Sutivanska Punta in the 6th century there was the old Croatian church of St. Ivan, the oldest in this part of the island. The second complex of monuments is the parish church of Ascension, built in 1579 in the time of the late renaissance forms with a beautiful baroque bell- tower with open loggia and a final arch untypical for the campaniles on Brac. The church of St. Roko was built in 1635, and later reconstructed.

Sutivan develops into a tourist destination adequate for family, sports and recreation tourism. More than 2000 excellent beds in private houses and villas, and about 10 gastronomic objects are ready to receive everybody who. The guests can rest in Sutivan during the whole year because of the good climate and the diversity of offer. The world famous Festival of extreme sports "Vanka regule" takes place every year in May in Sutivan with competitions in football and bowling.

There is also the Club for increasing of sports in the nature Saxum active. A special attraction is the Park of nature Sutivan, an extraordinary site for excursions, adequate for rest and fun for both the old and the young ones. You can visit a zoo, grounds for recreation (bowling, basketball, small football, beach- volleyball, swing, sand for the children etc.) and relaxation by the fountain with a excellent offer of drinks and dishes from the grill.

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Island Brac, the largest island of the central Dalmatian group of islands, the third largest among the Adriatic islands; area 394.57 sq km; population 13,824. It is separated from the mainland by the Brac Channel, from the island of Solta by the so-called Splitska Vrata (Split Gate) and from the Island of Hvar by the Hvar Channel.

The highest peak of the island, Vidova Gora (Vitus' Mount) (778 m), is also the highest peak of all Croatian islands.

The limestone part of the coast is rocky and steep, while the rest is rather low and sandy (on the southern side from Farska to Bol, and on the northern side from Sutivan to Supetar).

 

The island landscape is dominated by a karst limestone relief, with numerous gullies, crevices, cavities, round valleys and coves. Milder forms of the relief, with brown Primorje soils (the most fertile on the island), are found mostly in the interior (especially between Lozisca and Nerezisca, as well as between Selca, Novo Selo and Sumartin).

Composed primarily of limestone and dolomite, the quarries of the island of Brac have been a source of stone for building decorative stonework for centuries. The old Romans have known its quality and used this very stone to build cities, amphitheaters, temples, palaces and graves all over Dalmatia.

There are no surface water streams on the island. Permanent water sources are provided only around Bol. Higher parts of the island (above 400 m) are at some places covered with black and Aleppo pine forests; larger or smaller forests of Aleppo pine are found around all coastal towns and villages; dominant are dense evergreen underbrush (macchia) and rocky ground.

The largest places are Pucisca and Supetar. Major farming products are olive oil, wine and fruit (sour cherries and almonds); chief occupations include also livestock breeding and fishing. Fish canneries are located in Postira and Milna.

 

 

Major quarries, where the famous Brac building stone is excavated, are located near Pucisca, Selca, Postira, Splitska and Donji Humac (this kind of building stone was used in the construction of the White House in Washington and the Palace of Diocletian in Split).

A road network has been constructed throughout the island; ferry lines Split - Supetar, Makarska - Sumartin; ship lines with Supetar and Bol. Airport "Brac" (for smaller aircraft) is located above Bol.

We invite you to explore this unique island that offers everything one needs for an unforgettable holiday in an unspoiled natural enviroment.

Rich cultural and historic heritage that dates back to pre-historic times, unique gastronomy, beautiful beaches and bays, crystal blue sea, high quality accommodation in private facilities and the hospitality of the local people are the guarantees of a holiday you will always remember.

Splitska, Brac island

Splitska is located 8 km east from Supetar. The settlement developed in the 16th century, after the foundation in the 13th century when the pirates from Omis destroyed it. The church consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Stomorna was built on the foundations of an older church from 1228. The altar pale of the Virgin with Saints has painted Leadro Bassano, a renaissance painter from Venice in 1577.

The court of the family Cerinic was built in 1577. In the ancient time was in Splitska a port, from which the stone from the island Brac was transported for the construction of the Diocletian's palace in Split.

Today you can see near Splitska in the stone-quarry Rasohe a relief of Heracles, which probably has been made by slaves, who worked in the quarry.

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Supetar, Brac island

With its 3500 inhabitants Supetar is the biggest settlement on the island Brac, and the centre of the island. Beside the beaches and restaurants, we recommend you to visit the parish church of Mary Annunciation (18th century) with the surrounding buildings like Leroj (bell-tower with watch) and the church museum. here is the sculpture of St. Victor on the entrance of the museum, a work of the sculptor Petar Jaksic, who is also the author of the sculpture Mother Theresia on the entrance of the church court. Inside the church is the altar pala of the Blessed Virgin Mary with saints, a work of the local amateur painter Felix Tironi (1722 -1808), and the organ has constructed Petar Nakic in 1737.

Beside the church there are early Christian mosaics from the 6th century. The con temporary church is built on the foundations of an early Christian basilica onsecrated to St. Peter, from we owe the name of the today Supetar.

The white dome of the neo- Byzantine mausoleum of the family Petrinovic dominates over the bay of Supetar, a work of the sculptor Tome Rosandic (1878 -1957). It is on the cemetery by the church of Sv. Nikola. Beside it there are also two early Christian sarcophagus, and under the graveyard the ruins of a Roman villae rusticae. Many of the grave monuments are the work of the sculptor Ivan Rendic (1849 - 1932): the Pieta on the grave of Mihovil Franasovic, the secession grave of Rinaldo Culic, as well as the mausoleum of the family Radnic.

Rendic has spent his youth, and the last 11 years of life in Supetar. He has studied in Trieste, Venice and Florence and many experts consider that he has been the best Croatian sculptor in the 19th century. His 208 artistic works are dispersed in 51cities, but some of them you can see in the gallery "Ivan Rendic", which is within the library on the first floor. You will see also Rendics sculpture Alegory of mind in front of the gallery.

The church of St. Martin from the 18th century is situated on the same square. One of the 19 preserved early Romanic little churches on the island Brac, the church of sv. Luka from the turn of the 11th into the 12th century is located above Supetar. It is famous because of the oldest preserved narrative of a ship in Dalmatia, which is engraved on a wall inside the church.

You will see all around Supetar, mostly in olive- plantages and vineyards, but also on other places on the island Brac, many bunje, stony field- houses of round ground-plan with a doom as roof. It is supposed that the first houses of the pre- historical man looked like this. Today they serve generally for the keeping of agricultural tools.

 

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Sumartin, Brac island

Sumartin is the youngest fishermen's- village on Brac. The ferry-port in Sumartin connects a part of the island with the land. It is worth to visit the Museum of the monastery of fra Andrija Kacic - Miosic which has very worthy paintings (among them especially the early baroque Last Supper/ Posljednja vecera from the second half of the 17th century).

The documents written in bosancica from the period of 1665 - 1755are also very valuable.

Chief occupations are farming, viniculture, olive growing, fishing and tourism. Situated on the regional road running along the island; ferry port and connection with Makarska. The village set in the vicinity of the big quarries, used the stone for the paving of lanes, for the dents (the nails) on the house walls, for the doorways and for the stone seats in the shade of the clumps of trees in the Sumartin yards.

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Postira, Brac island

Postira was first mentioned in the 14th century. Postira is a little Mediterranean town located on the northern side of the island Brac, 8 kilometers from Supetar. Coming out from the clear blue of the Adriatic, Postira climbs up the hill to embrace the centuries old olive fields and pine forests that partly replaced dead vine and also it comes into the fertile valley of vine yards and tangerine to the south.

Postira stretches their roots deep into the past, which testify three early Christian localities and among them the most famous are the remains of a basilica in Lovrecina, a bay with a source and a very beautiful sandy beach.

Postira is beautiful in every season! The village is decorated even in January with the almond-bloom. When the crazy time of carnival stops, and the cold northern bora winds clear the sea and the landscape, the vineyards and the fig-plantages put forth buds, and the meadows become green. Young sheep were born and sage, heather and the yellow glister are .... the nature.

In the summer Postira shows its hospitality. Many bays and beaches come to life by the variety of the domestic tourist offer. While the cicadas play their concert, you can hear also the song of travellers and smell the fresh fish from the grill.

Postira is beautiful also in the autumn. Left alone, it entertains itself with the vintage of grape, mandarins and olives, and the vineyards become lively by the songs of the hard-working people. The new cultivated plantages of golden-coloured fruits and the century old olive fields are filled with this the God given tree announce also new times of post- season and ecological tourism.

In the winter Postira isn't also without its magic: Christmas- Eve, the ethnic-colors of church rituals, the long evenings around the fire- place.The November rain covers the thirsty soil. And when for change the cold bora- wind touches the core of the bones, the wood collected in autumn burns, gives warmth and calls into the memory the ancient times of mythological Brac of whom the writer Vladimir Nazor, who was born in this little town, talks in his poem "Shepherd Loda".

The hidden beauties of every season, friendliness of people and the hospitality in the comfortable hotels and private apartments will remain for long time in your memory.

 

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Pucisca Brac island

Pucisca is a settlement in the middle part of the northern part of the island Brac turned to the channel of Brac, Omis and Makarska. The settlement originated on stone, at stone and from stone. ith 1706 inhabitants, along with Supetar, this is the biggest town on Brac with original Mediterranean characteristics. Its white roofs are creating a true ambient atmosphere. It is located at the bottom of a deep bay which splits into two smaller bays: Puciski dolac and Stipanska luka.

Pucisca is rich of stones and exactly the excellent local stone has contributed o the development of the town. The work with the stone and the life from it are brought over from generation to generation. Nowadays a stonemason- school is working there. Many palaces throughout the world have been built with the local stone from the renaissance age until today. The works (mainly sculptures) of contemporary domestic and foreign sculptors are set on many public places, which are from the same stone. Other economy branches are cattle-breeding and agriculture.

The surrounding of Pucisca, like the whole island Brac, is famous for the production of olive-oil, vine, and figs. Since ages sheep and goats were raised. Thanks to the various Mediterranean plants and grasses, and the sea and mountain air on the higher locations Brac is a true paradise. The historic Plinius the older (24.-29. A.D.) wrote about Brac as a place where excellent goats are raised: "capris laudata Brattia" (by goats praised Brac).

Tourist offer

The diligent people of Pucisca are always searching and discovering other natural blessings. In this way they find and strengthen their position in the tourist offer. Directly in the heart of the town is the hotel Porat with 15 beds, and by the parish church the recently opened family hotel "Deskovic", which developed from the former Palace Deskovic.

This hotel is a building with four stars, and has a restaurant which will surely make your palates happy, a vinoteque and a galery. There are a few excellent restaurants, taverns/ konobas, the garden restaurant Aquila, many coffee bars, pizzerias, a cake-shop, and a hotel inside the Pupils Home of the Stone-mason school.

The beaches are with gravel and stones, with a lot of small bays, were everybody can find his intimate corner. Constantly new beaches are being arranged, which are especially suitable for small children. Those who want can choose their holiday in a villa in Praznice or Gornji Humac where especially children have the opportunity to experience the rural Brac. The Robinson type of tourism is also represented - only you, the sea and the sun. The beauty of Pucisca is eternal - therefore the perfect harmony of stone and tourism in this place of sun, stone and salt is not a question at all.

Culture

Pucisca have been and still are a strong cultural centre of Brac. Already in 1516 the first private school on the island was established in Pucisca. The chronics Vicko Prodic, Petar Dominis, Trifun Mladinic, Andrija Ciccarelli are famous as well as the writers Jure Zuvetic i Sabo Mladinic. In Pucisca have worked also the very famous stonemasons Juraj Dalmatinac, Andrija Alesi and Nikola Firentinac. The builder and constructor, military engineer Ivan Puljizic was born in Pucisca in the middle of the 17th century and he worked on the court of the Pope Inocent X. From Pucisca is also Trifun Bokanic, the outstanding builder of the third floor of the cathedral in Trogir. Here are also born the two best sculptors from Brac Branko Deskovic and Valerije Michieli.

A harmonious renaissance building by the castle Ciprijan Zuvetic is outstanding among the monuments of the profane architecture. The castles are a brand-mark of Pucisca and very interesting from the historical point of view as well as from the architectural point. There is also the Palace of the family Moro, today the official building of the Municipality Pucisca, and the Primary school Pucisca from the times of the Austrian- Hungarian government, which opened in 1902, and was totally renewed in 2004.

An extraordinary cultural and historical monument is the famous Povaljska listina which is kept in the parish court. According to its original from 1184 it is the oldest preserved document written in Croatian language and Croatian letters. The Listina is one of our oldest and most important language monuments in general. The most monumental sacral monument is the parish church of St. Jerolim, built in 1566 and spread in 1750. There is also the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a bell-tower and the cemetery in Botak. Around the church of St. Stephen, on the local cemetery are found one of the oldest settlement: a pagan altar and a Roman grave stela. Almost a trademark of Pucisca is the small church of St. George on Bracuta, right from the road to Postira.

Today Pucisca have a branched cultural activity which reflect itself in many cultural manifestations, especially in the Cultural Summer-festival - concerts of classical, pop and jazz music, performance of klapa (traditional a-capella music), exhibitions, guest theatres, lectures, promotion of books, literature evenings, and various sports- events. Already eight years acts the International Summer Music- school, and the third year the Summer Music- festival of Brac.

Praznica and Gornji Humac

You should not miss to visit the villages Praznica and Gornji Humac in the area of the municipality Pucisca. Praznica is an old settlement from the Middle age about 7 km south of Pucisca, at an altitude of 391 m and with 350 inhabitants, who are living mainly from agriculture and cattle-breeding. Almost every road leads to a church. The oldest church is consecrated to St. Ciprian and originates from the 11th century. The parish church of St. Ante was built in the year 1461. Around Praznice are a huger number of piles of pre- historical tombstones.

Gornji Humac is one of the oldest existing settlements of shepherds and farmers on the island. The place is 13 km away from Pucisca, from Supetar 24 km, and from Bol 10 km. The most impressive building is the parish church of St.Nikola. The place completely burned out in a fire in 1943, and it has risen from the ashes like the Phoenix. Today Gornji Humac is proud of its numerous picturesque taverns/ konobas and inns. The one who visit these villages will never forget how important clean and fresh air is. The ecological domestic dishes will rest in a nice memory. You will surely want to come again.

 

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