Editing Hvar (section)

==History==
Hvar's location at the north east centre of the [[Adriatic]] sailing routes has long made this island an important base for commanding trade up and down the Adriatic, across to [[Italy]] and throughout the wider [[Mediterranean]]. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times, originally by a [[Neolithic]] people whose distinctive pottery gave rise to the term [[Hvar culture]], and later by the [[Illyrians]]. The [[ancient Greeks]] founded the colony of Pharos in 384 BC on the site of today's [[Stari Grad, Split-Dalmatia County|Stari Grad]], making it one of the oldest towns in [[Europe]]. They were also responsible for setting out the agricultural field divisions of the [[Stari Grad Plain]], now a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]. In [[medieval]] times, the town of [[Hvar (town)|Hvar]] rose to importance within the [[Venetian Empire]] as a major naval base. Prosperity brought culture and the arts, with one of the first public theatres in Europe, nobles' palaces and many fine communal buildings.

The 16th century was an unsettled time, with the [[Hvar Rebellion]], coastal raids by pirates and the Ottoman army from the mainland, resulting in some unusual fortified buildings on the northern shore to protect the local population. After a brief time under [[Napoleonic Empire|Napoleonic rule]], the island became part of the [[Austrian Empire]], a more peaceful and prosperous time. On the coast, harbours were expanded, quays built, fishing and boat building businesses grew. At the same time, the island's wine exports increased, along with lavender and rosemary production for the French perfume industry. However, this prosperity did not continue into the 20th century as wooden sailing boats went out of fashion, and the [[phylloxera]] blight hit wine production. Many islanders left to make a new life elsewhere.<ref name="novak">{{citation |last=Novak |first=Grga |author-link=Grga Novak |title=Hvar Kroz Stoljeća (Hvar Through the Centuries) |edition=2nd |series=Historijski Arhiv - Hvar (Historical Archives of Hvar) |volume=I |year=1960 |orig-date=1924 |publisher=Narodni Odbor Općine Hvar (National Council of Hvar Municipality) |language=hr |mode=cs1}}</ref><ref name="leksikon">{{citation |title=Hvar |series=Hrvatski Leksikon |volume=II |year=1997 |publisher=Naklada Leksikon d.o.o. |location=Zagreb |language=hr |isbn=9789539672803 |page=490 |mode=cs1}}</ref><ref name="histplaces">{{citation |first=Trudy |last=Ring |author2=Salkin, Robert M. |author3=La Boda, Sharon |editor1=Robert M. Salkin |editor2=Sharon La Boda |title=International Dictionary of Historical Places (Vol 3:Southern Europe) |edition=2nd |year=1996 |orig-date=1995 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=9781884964022 |pages=331–334 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=74JI2UlcU8AC |mode=cs1}}</ref>
[[File:Jagodna beach Waves Hvar-2009166.jpg|thumb|''Jagodna'' beach between the villages of Ivan Dolac and Sveta Nedilja]]
One industry, [[tourism]], has however continued to grow and is now a significant contributor to the island's economy. The formation of The [[Hygienic Association of Hvar]] in 1868 for the assistance of visitors to the island has been instrumental in developing an infrastructure of hotels, apartments, restaurants, marinas, museums, [[Art museum|galleries]] and [[café]]s.<ref name="hvartz">{{citation |title=Tourist Board of City of Hvar |url=http://www.tzhvar.hr/en |access-date=14 July 2009 |mode=cs1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626044544/http://www.tzhvar.hr/en/ |archive-date=26 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Today, the island of Hvar is a tourist destination, consistently listed in the top 10 islands by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.<ref name="cn">{{citation |title=Top Islands |series=Conde Nast Traveler:Readers' Choice Awards |url=http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/readerschoice/islands |access-date=19 September 2009 |mode=cs1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210185228/http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/readerschoice/islands |archive-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>