Hi everyone!
This post will be about a lovely island in the Croatian Adriatic Sea. The island’s name is Brač and the correct pronunciation is Brach. It’s one of the bigger islands in Croatia, with 396 km² in size (152.9 mi²) and about 15,000 residents. This post will focus only on its southern shore.
The most logical place to start your Brač Island tour is the town of Bol. It’s a picturesque little town whose main attraction is the iconic beach Golden Cape (Zlatni rat). It is one of few beaches in the world that stretch out perpendicularly into the sea. The beach consists of pebbles, it’s about half a kilometer long and it offers both the sun and the shade, depending on which you like better.
In case you prefer quieter places than Golden Cape, you should explore the opposite side of Bol. This is where you’ll find several beaches with fewer people. These beaches stretch around the Dominican monastery, which dates back to the 15th century.
However, as I always like to explore more places while on vacation, join me on board now! I will reveal some secrets of this island’s southern shore.
The first one is Blaca Hermitage. It was founded in the 16th century by the Catholic priests who fled from the Croatian mainland because of the common Turkish attacks. They found refuge on Brač. The origin of their monastery was just a cave, but with time they managed to put up the complex as we know it today. All the assets exclusively belonged to the monks’ community, which was active until 1963. From then on, Blaca has been a museum. It is open on all days except Monday. Filming and taking photos is not allowed within the museum, which gives a bit of secrecy to the entire tour.
Blaca is also a place where you don’t have to worry about the crowds, as you can get there only on foot! Some tourists simply wouldn’t find this fact appealing. However, there are several trails leading to Blaca, but all of them require some effort. In fact, this is one of few remaining places on the Croatian Adriatic without a road. It definitely adds up some charm. All the trails leading to Blaca contain rough rocky terrain, so it’s important to wear adequate footwear when going there.
The most convenient approach to Blaca is probably from the eponymous Blaca Cove. From there, you will need about half an hour uphill to reach the monastery. The best thing about this route that you can have a dip in this wonderful cove once you return from hiking.
If you travel by boat (or rent one), make sure to visit the former military tunnel which used to belong to the Yugoslav Army. It is located slightly to the west from the Blaca Cove. During communism, it wasn’t possible to approach the tunnel and this part of the island, not even for the locals, but nowadays – luckily, nobody will point the gun at you if you come close. It’s actually the local fishermen who use this place nowadays.
Although the southern shore of Brač is more than 50 km long (31 mi), it has only two settlements. One is the town of Bol , which I’ve already described, and the other is a picturesque village called Murvica. It’s known for beautiful secluded beaches.
In conclusion, the southern shore of Brač Island will satisfy everyone’s taste. Regardless if you prefer serenity or distant murmur while on holiday, it can provide you with both options. I believe it’s enough motivation to start exploring it.
Hrvatska!
