The history of the island of Hvar

The island of Hvar has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeologists have found traces of
life on the island of Hvar dating back to 3500 BC. A special prehistoric culture was called Hvar
Culture 3500 - 2500 BC, according to the findings in Grapceva and Mark's Cave. In the writen
history island of Hvar enters 385 BC. When on it the Greeks form the island of Paros in the
Aegean established a colony on the site of today's Old Town. Parane was assisted in this
colonizing act by Dionysius Syracuse, who at the beginning of the 4th century BC. Cr. founded a
colony on Vis, which was its trading and military center in the Adriatic. But a year after the
establishment of the Pharos colony, natives invaded the young Greek colony. There was a few
day war whch is the first know battlethat hapend on adriatic sea.The first coins found on hvar
were with goat and grapevine.Pharos lived an autonomous life until about 235 BC. When it
comes under the administration of the State of Illyria. During the First Illyrian War, in the year
229 BC. Cr. the city was conquered by the Romans.Pharos existed under the protection of Rome
until he joined the Roman province of Illyricum in the mid-1st century BC. Pharos was the capital
of the island during antiquity, however, according to archaeological findings found around the Hvar
fortress, it is very likely that at the site of today's Hvar fortress there was a hilltop in ancient
times that controlled the route along the ancient Adriatic waterway. In late antiquity, there was no
significant settlement on the site of the present-day town of Hvar; only in the Middle Ages did
the center of the island shift from Stari Grad to Hvar. In February 1278 they made the decision
to enter into Venetian rule. With this act, the ascent of Hvar began, because with its favorable
maritime position it became one of the most important cities of the Venetian Republic.1571 the
city experienced prosperity, becoming a signifi In cant port of the Venetian fleet in the Adriatic. In
addition to its military importance, Hvar was also a strong economic and commercial center.
Strong fishing and agriculture in the 16th century led to the Hvar commune being the richest
commune in Dalmatia by population. On August 19, 1571, the city was attacked by a Turkish
fleet under the command of Uluz-Aliyah and Karakoce. The Ottomans sailed 73 ships from Hvar.
They burned down the houses, the Arsenal, the Prince's Palace, the communal office, the
archives, all the churches and monasteries. A few months after the Turkish attack, the plague
was raging at the beginning of 1572. Two thirds of the population died.Hvar recovered from the
devastation at the end of the 16th century, and in the next century emerged as a rich city with
a thriving economy. While war was raging on the Dalmatian coast, its aftermath did not
significantly affect Hvar. The only increase was the settlement of the eastern part of the island by
refugees fleeing the warring areas. During the 18th century, Venice was increasingly losing the
race to the western world, and with it the Dalmatian cities, including Hvar. In 1919, the island
was occupied by the Italians, under whose authority it remained until the Rapallo Treaty was
signed in 1921, when the island fell into the hands of the newly established Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes, later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During the Second World War, Hvar from
1941 to 1945 nominally belonged to the Independent State of Croatia.After the Second World
War, Hvar, like all of Croatia, was part of communist Yugoslavia. During this period, from 1945 to
1991, several hotels were built in Hvar, water supply and sewage systems were built, and the
city prospered in every way. During the 1991-1995 Homeland War, Hvar did not suffer from
enemy shells, but with the accommodation of refugees from the occupied areas, it carried a
heavy burden that is still felt today.