Island Entities Hvar

An overview of history and culture of island Hvar

“No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the

continent……a part of the main

If a clod be washed away by the sea…” John Donne

The sunniest island…the longest island…

History of Hvar

• Early settlement - Neolithic period (3500 – 2500 BC)

• Greek settlement from 385 BC – Pharos

• Romans destroyed the walls of Pharos in 219 BC – Pharia and latter Phara

• 7th C Slavs settled an island - Hvar

• Venice ruled Dalamatia (1420 – 1797)

Early Settlement on Island

• Unique climate conditions

• Rich flora and fauna• Abundance of herbs

typical for Mediterranean

• Vineyards, olive trees, fish, herbs

The History Written in Blood…

• Island where various Mediterranean nation exchanged ideas, goods and services

• Target to the foreign armies and imperialistic ambitions of neighbouring countries

Fortresses in Hvar

The Arrival of Croats

When Weapons are Silenced,Muses are Singing

• Museums, monasteries, churches, palaces, theatre have been build in Hvar, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Sucuraj

• Pharos – Lighthouse: Its beams shed light far to other parts of the Croatian national territory

Islands: Living Museums of Language

• Croatian vernacular – language of Croatian Renaissance writers

• Original dialects preserved intact for centuries on our islands

• Chakavian dialect spoken in Hvar

Education in Dalmatia

• Centers of higher learning in Rome, Padua, Sienna, Bologna, Venice

• Private tutors, and educated refuges from parts of Eastern Roman empire find their home in Dalmatian costal towns.

Bibliotheca capitularis (1481)

• Bishop Tomo Tomasini in the mission to convert heretics in Bosnia until its fall in 1463

• Returns to Hvar as the bishop of Hvar

• In 148 Kaptol Library established in St Stephen Cathedral

Humanism in HvarIdeal of Classical Order

Croatian 15th Century Humanists

• New ideas were spreading through commerce

• Ciracio Pizzocolli affluent merchant from Ancon, Italy among initiators of humanism on Croatian shores of Adriatic

Vinko Pribojevic - “The first Slavic Enthusiast “

• Born on the island Hvar

• Educated in the humanist spirit and joined Dominican order

• “On the Origin and Glory of the Slavs”

Pribojevic’s Quote on History of Croats and City of Hvar:

“I have resolved, as a Dalmatian, and therefore Illyrian (Croat), and finally as a Slav to speak before Slavs regarding the destiny of the Slavs.. I shall narrate the history of Dalmatia, which is not a negligible part of Slavic world, and finally I shall present the history of our ancient city.”

Croatian Renaissance and Its Ripples in Hvar

• The full flowering of Renaissance art production happened when Croatian national territory was minimised to “reliquiae reliquiarum” or remnants of the remnants of the great Croatian Kingdom

• Hvar’s renaissance artists had paved the way in originality producing works typical for our national genius.

Hanibal Lucic – Hvar’s Poet

• The Slave Girl (Robinja) written in 1530 one of the first European romances written half a century before Shakespeare’s Tempest

• Theme of resistance against Turks introduced in the early Renaissance

• Connection with folk poetry in Lucic’s literary production inspires other writers

A Portrait of A Renaissance Man

• Supervised building of the Franciscan church and monastery

• Served as a distinguished member of the Great Council

• Wrote poetry and play• Erected his own

elegant summer residence

Deus nobis haec otia fecit… God prepared for us this idles…

No other nymph upon this Earth

No other nymph on this EarthFor her beauty is more praised,For all eulogies has obtainsThe nymph who charms my hearth.There will not be nor has ever been A rival to compete with her.For her beauty is more praisedNo other nymph upon this earth.

No other Nymph upon this Earth

If such beauty should ageIt would be a great pity.Oh Lord, who are above everythingMake it remain such forever;Until the end of this worldDo not allow time to disfigure it.It would be a great pityIf such beauty should age.

Renaissance Architecture

Five Centuries of Hvar's Theatre

Territory of the Republic of Venice