Editing Hvar

{{Short description|Island in Croatia}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{other uses}}
{{Refimprove|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Hvar
| image_name       = Brač Hvar Korčula by Sentinel-2 Cloudless.jpg
| image_caption    = Satellite image of Hvar
| image_size       = 290px
| image_map        = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=1|zoom=7}}
| map_caption      = 
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = Hrvatski
| nickname         = 
| location         = [[Adriatic Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|43|09|N|16|45|E|type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = 
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 297.37
| length_km        = 68
| width_km         = 
| highest_mount    = Sv. Nikola
| elevation_m      = 629
| country          = Croatia
| country_admin_divisions_title   = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Split-Dalmatia County|Split-Dalmatia]]
| country_largest_city            = [[Hvar (town)|Hvar]]
| country_largest_city_population = 3,527
| population       = 10,678
| population_as_of = 2021
| density_km2      = 36.1
| ethnic_groups    = [[Croats]]
| coastline_km     = 270
}}
'''Hvar''' ({{IPA|sh|xvâːr|pron}}; [[Chakavian]]: ''Hvor'' or ''For''; {{langx|el|Φάρος|Pharos}}; {{langx|la|Pharia}}; {{langx|it|Lesina}}) is a [[Croatia]]n island in the [[Adriatic Sea]], located off the [[Dalmatia]]n coast, lying between the islands of [[Brač]], [[Vis (island)|Vis]] and [[Korčula]]. Approximately {{convert|68|km|2}} long,<ref name="Duplancic-Cala-Ujevic">
{{cite journal |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/9636 |title=Coastline lengths and areas of islands in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea determined from the topographic maps at the scale of 1:25 000 |journal=Geoadria |location=[[Zadar]] |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=5–32 |date=June 2004 |last1=Duplančić Leder |first1=Tea |last2=Ujević |first2=Tin |last3=Čala |first3=Mendi |doi=10.15291/geoadria.127 |format=PDF |access-date=2019-12-06 |doi-access=free}}</ref> with a high east–west ridge of [[Mesozoic]] [[limestone]] and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]], the island of Hvar is unusual in the area for having a large fertile coastal plain, and fresh water springs. Its hillsides are covered in pine forests, with vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and lavender fields in the agricultural areas. The climate is characterized by mild winters, and warm summers with many hours of sunshine.<ref name="hvarsite">{{citation |title=Island Hvar |url=http://www.hvar.hr |access-date=19 September 2009 |mode=cs1}}</ref> The island has 10,678 residents according to the 2021 census,<ref name="crostat">{{citation |title=Census of Population, Households and Dwellings |url=http://www.dzs.hr/ |year=2021 |publisher=Republic of Croatia: Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=20 August 2022 |mode=cs1}}</ref> making it the fourth most populated of the [[List of inhabited islands of Croatia|Croatian islands]].

==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>

==Geography==
[[File:Southern Croatian Adriatic.png|thumb|250px|The island of Hvar lies in the Southern Adriatic Sea, off the Dalmatian coast, southern Croatia]]
[[File:Hvar Satellite.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of Hvar]]

The island of Hvar is located in the [[Adriatic Sea]], off the [[Dalmatia]]n coast. To the north, the island of [[Brač]] lies across the Hvar Channel (''Hvarski kanal''), to the west is [[Vis (island)|Vis]], separated by the Vis Channel, and to the south [[Korčula]] lies across the Korčula Channel, while the [[Pelješac]] Peninsula is across the Neretva Channel. The eastern end of Hvar is just {{convert|6|km|mi}} from the mainland. Along the southern coast of the island there are several smaller islands, notably the [[Paklinski islands]] at the western end and [[Šćedro]] island, while Zečevo island lies off the north coast.<ref name="leksikon"/>

===Landscape===
Hvar is a high east–west ridge of [[Mesozoic]] [[limestone]] and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]], which was part of the mainland until approximately 11,000 years ago. Around that time, sea levels rose, filling the valleys that are now the channels between the islands.<ref name="Forenbaher">{{citation |title=Prehistoric Populations of the Island of Hvar |author=S.Forbaher |url=http://www.hrcak.srce.hr/file/44416 |publisher=Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia |mode=cs1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604065251/http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/44416 |archive-date=2014-06-04}}</ref> Hvar has a typical [[karst]] landscape, which means limited or no surface water, despite adequate rainfall, which disappears quickly into crevices in the ground. Farming in such areas requires careful conservation of water and protection of the soil against erosion. The water cisterns in the fields, and the dry-stone walls, especially terracing on the slopes are necessary for the continued success of agriculture on the island.<ref name="karstpoljes">{{citation |title=The hydrogeological function of the karst poljes on some islands of the Adriatic Sea |author=Janislav Kapelj & Sanja Kapelj |publisher=Institute of Geology, Department for hydrogeology and engineering geology, Zagreb, Croatia |url=http://www.rmz-mg.com/letniki/rmz50/rmz50_0157-0160.pdf |mode=cs1}}</ref>

[[File:Hvar J obala.jpg|thumb|left|The southern coast of Hvar near Sveta Nedjelja]]
The island has a typical [[Mediterranean vegetation]], mostly bare with woody scrub at higher, steeper elevations, turning to pine forests on the lower slopes with [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]], [[Aleppo pine]]s (''[[Pinus halapensis]]'') and [[European Black Pine|black pines]] (''Pinus nigra dalmatica''). The islet of [[Šćedro]] is especially rich in various Mediterranean trees and plants.<ref name="hvarsite"/>

Hvar island is {{convert|68|km|mi}} long, and only {{convert|10.5|km|mi}} at its widest point. It covers an area of {{convert|297|km2|sqmi}}, the 4th largest of the Adriatic islands by area, and has a coastline length of {{convert|254.2|km|mi}}. The highest peak is Sv. Nikola, at {{Convert|628|m|ft}}.<ref name="leksikon"/>

===Administration and population===
The island is part of [[Split-Dalmatia County]] in [[Dalmatia]], Croatia. The island has two [[List of cities and towns in Croatia|towns]] ([[Hvar (town)|Hvar]] and [[Stari Grad, Croatia|Stari Grad]]) and two [[Municipalities of Croatia|municipalities]] ([[Jelsa, Croatia|Jelsa]] and [[Sućuraj]]). Population figures are from 2021.<ref name="crostat"/>
* [[Hvar (town)|'''Hvar''']], the largest town on the island (pop 3,979), for many years an independent commune and major naval base of the [[Venetian Empire]]. The town includes the settlements of [[Brusje]] (174), '''Hvar''' (3,519), Jagodna (43), [[Malo Grablje]] (3), [[Milna, Hvar|Milna]] (77), [[Sveta Nedjelja, Hvar|Sveta Nedjelja]] (135), [[Velo Grablje]] (20) and [[Zaraće]] (8).<ref name="crostat"/>
* '''[[Jelsa, Croatia|Jelsa]],''' municipality in the central part of the island (pop 3,501). The municipality includes the settlements of [[Gdinj]] (122), [[Gromin Dolac]] (6), [[Humac, Hvar|Humac]] (uninhabited), [[Ivan Dolac]] (68), '''Jelsa''' (1,753), [[Pitve]] (90), [[Poljica, Jelsa|Poljica]] (53), [[Svirče]] (385), [[Vrboska]] (542), [[Vrisnik]] (186), [[Zastražišće]] (126), [[Zavala, Split-Dalmatia County|Zavala]] (170).
* '''[[Stari Grad, Croatia|Stari Grad]]''', on the north part of the island (pop 2,772), is the site of one of the first permanent settlements on the Adriatic islands during [[Classical antiquity|Antiquity]]. Today, Stari Grad is the main seaport on the island; most visitors arrive here via car ferries from [[Split (city)|Split]]. The town includes the settlements of [[Dol, Stari Grad|Dol]] (305), [[Rudina, Croatia|Rudina]] (79), [[Selca kod Starog Grada]] (9), '''Stari Grad''' (1,921) and [[Vrbanj]] (458).
* '''[[Sućuraj]]''', municipality on the eastern end of the island (pop 426), nearest to the mainland, where a regular car ferry service connects the island with the port of [[Drvenik, Split-Dalmatia County|Drvenik]]. The municipality includes the settlements of [[Bogomolje]] (121), [[Selca kod Bogomolja]] (12) and '''Sućuraj''' (293).

===Climate===

{{climate chart
|Hvar (Town of Hvar)
|6|13|68
|6|13|56
|8|15|63
|11|18|54
|15|22|47
|18|26|34
|21|30|26
|21|30|45
|18|26|64
|14|22|79
|10|17|94
|7|14|83
|source=[http://klima.hr/k1/k1_2/hvar.pdf]
|float=left
}}
{{climate chart
|Hvar (Stari Grad)
|7|14|69
|8|14|59
|10|17|66
|13|20|57
|17|24|46
|21|29|38
|23|32|26
|23|32|46
|19|27|62
|16|23|81
|13|19|94
|9|15|96
|source=[NOAA, from Google]
|float=center
}}

The climate of Hvar is [[hot-summer Mediterranean]] (''Csa'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]). It has mild winters and hot summers. The yearly average air temperature is {{cvt|16|°C|0}}, {{cvt|703|mm|1}} of precipitation fall on Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7 sunshine hours per day while Dubrovnik has 7.2. The sea temperatures average from the lowest readings in February of {{cvt|14|°C|0}} to their warmest during summer, when the sea temperatures usually stay between {{cvt|23|°C|0}} to {{cvt|27|°C|0}}. The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Mediterranean climate#Hot-summer Mediterranean climate|Csa]]" (Mediterranean Climate).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=53331&cityname=Hvar,+Croatia&units= |title=Hvar, Croatia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase) |website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

Since records began in 1858, the highest temperature recorded at the Hvar weather station at an elevation of {{convert|20|m|ft}} was {{convert|37.7|C|F}}, on 8 August 1956.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-07-19 |author=DHMZ |title=Najviše izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja |url=https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn&param=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=najvise_temperature_zraka |website=Državni hidrometeorološki zavod}}</ref> The coldest temperature was {{convert|-7.0|C|F}}, on 24 January 1942.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-01-21 |author=DHMZ |title=Najniže izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja |url=https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn&param=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=najnize_temperature_zraka |website=Državni hidrometeorološki zavod}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Hvar (1971–2000, extremes 1858–2014)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 19.6
|Feb record high C = 23.4
|Mar record high C = 24.0
|Apr record high C = 27.8
|May record high C = 33.0
|Jun record high C = 37.0
|Jul record high C = 37.5
|Aug record high C = 37.7
|Sep record high C = 34.4
|Oct record high C = 31.5
|Nov record high C = 25.7
|Dec record high C = 20.6
|year record high C = 37.7
| Jan high C = 12.6
| Feb high C = 13.0
| Mar high C = 14.9
| Apr high C = 17.7
| May high C = 22.3
| Jun high C = 26.4
| Jul high C = 29.5
| Aug high C = 29.5
| Sep high C = 26.0
| Oct high C = 21.8
| Nov high C = 16.8
| Dec high C = 13.7
|year high C = 20.3
|Jan mean C = 9.1
|Feb mean C = 9.2
|Mar mean C = 11.1
|Apr mean C = 14.0
|May mean C = 18.5
|Jun mean C = 22.3
|Jul mean C = 25.0
|Aug mean C = 24.8
|Sep mean C = 21.5
|Oct mean C = 17.7
|Nov mean C = 13.3
|Dec mean C = 10.3
|year mean C = 16.4
| Jan low C = 5.9
| Feb low C = 5.9
| Mar low C = 7.7
| Apr low C = 10.5
| May low C = 14.7
| Jun low C = 18.3
| Jul low C = 20.9
| Aug low C = 20.8
| Sep low C = 17.7
| Oct low C = 14.3
| Nov low C = 10.1
| Dec low C = 7.2
|year low C = 12.8
|Jan record low C = −7.0
|Feb record low C = −5.5
|Mar record low C = −4.6
|Apr record low C = 0.0
|May record low C = 5.1
|Jun record low C = 10.0
|Jul record low C = 12.8
|Aug record low C = 9.7
|Sep record low C = 8.0
|Oct record low C = 4.9
|Nov record low C = −3.0
|Dec record low C = −5.0
|year record low C = −7.0
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 68.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 55.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 62.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 54.1
| May precipitation mm = 46.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 34.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 26.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 45.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 63.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 79.3
| Nov precipitation mm = 94.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 83.2
|year precipitation mm = 713.7
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 9.8
| Feb precipitation days = 9.0
| Mar precipitation days = 9.4
| Apr precipitation days = 10.2
| May precipitation days = 7.8
| Jun precipitation days = 6.8
| Jul precipitation days = 4.0
| Aug precipitation days = 4.7
| Sep precipitation days = 7.0
| Oct precipitation days = 9.3
| Nov precipitation days = 11.3
| Dec precipitation days = 10.4
|year precipitation days = 99.8
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 0.1
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 0.1
|Jan humidity = 68.7
|Feb humidity = 65.0
|Mar humidity = 66.4
|Apr humidity = 65.5
|May humidity = 66.6
|Jun humidity = 63.7
|Jul humidity = 58.8
|Aug humidity = 61.0
|Sep humidity = 65.4
|Oct humidity = 67.8
|Nov humidity = 68.5
|Dec humidity = 69.0
|year humidity = 65.5
|Jan sun = 133.3
|Feb sun = 155.4
|Mar sun = 195.3
|Apr sun = 222.0
|May sun = 288.3
|Jun sun = 324.0
|Jul sun = 365.8
|Aug sun = 334.8
|Sep sun = 258.0
|Oct sun = 198.4
|Nov sun = 135.0
|Dec sun = 124.0
|year sun =
|Jan percentsun = 47
|Feb percentsun = 55
|Mar percentsun = 56
|Apr percentsun = 59
|May percentsun = 68
|Jun percentsun = 76
|Jul percentsun = 84
|Aug percentsun = 81
|Sep percentsun = 71
|Oct percentsun = 61
|Nov percentsun = 49
|Dec percentsun = 46
|year percentsun = 65
| source 1 = [[Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service]]<ref name= WMO >{{cite web |url=http://klima.hr/k1/k1_2/hvar.pdf |title=Hvar Climate Normals |access-date=2 December 2015 |publisher=Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service}}</ref><ref name=extremes>{{cite web |url=http://klima.hr/klima.php?id=k1&param=srednjak&Grad=hvar |title=Mjesečne vrijednosti za Hvar u razdoblju1858−2014 |language=hr |access-date=3 December 2015 |publisher=Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service}}</ref>
|date = July 2015}}

==History==
[[File:Spanish Fortress, Hvar 01.jpg|thumb|Spanish Fortress in [[Hvar (city)|Hvar town]]]]
{{See also|Hvar Rebellion}}

The first inhabitants of Hvar Island were Neolithic people who probably established trade links between Hvar and the eastern shores of the [[Mediterranean]]. The Hvar Culture lasted from 3500 to 2500 B.C. Beginning in the 4th century BC, the [[Greeks]] colonized the island.<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, {{ISBN|0-631-19807-5}}, page 114,"... in the early history of the colony settled in 385 BC on the island Pharos (Hvar) from the Aegean island Paros, famed for its marble. In traditional fashion they accepted the guidance of an oracle, ..."</ref> In 384 BC the Greek colonisers of Pharos defeated [[Zadar|Iadasinoi]] warriors and their allies, invited by the Hvar indigenes in their resistance to the Greek colonization. The first coins which Pharos minted after the war depicted a goat standing opposed to a snake. The two animals symbolize the Pharian Greeks (goat) and the Illyrians (snake).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Castiglioni |first1=Maria Paola |title=Cadmos-serpent chez les Illyriens |journal=Hypotheses |date=2006 |volume=1 |issue=9 |page=241 |doi=10.3917/hyp.051.0241 |quote=À côté des productions des orfèvres locaux, les données livrées par la numismatique sont aussi intéressantes car elles fournissent quelques éléments utiles pour mieux cerner l’importance symbolique rattachée au serpent chez les peuples illyriens : ce reptile apparaît sur les monnaies de la première frappe de Pharos – colonie parienne fondée sur l’actuelle île de Hvar, en Dalmatie, au début du ive siècle av. J.-C. – où il est représenté à côté d’un bouc. Dans la lecture qu’en a faite Aleksandar Stipcevic, le bouc, qui représenterait les colons grecs, aurait manifesté une attitude hostile et agressive envers le reptile, symbole des populations autochtones illyriennes}}</ref> Their victory over much larger forces was immortalized in one of the oldest known inscriptions of Croatia.

Following Roman victory in the [[Illyrian Wars#Second Illyrian War|Second Illyrian War]] against [[Demetrius of Pharos]], the island became a part of the [[Roman Republic]] in 219 BC and the Greek name Pharos was changed to Pharia. After the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] in the west, the island was under the control of the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] or Eastern Roman Empire. The population increased in the [[Late Antiquity]] with an abundance of archaeological finds. A large number of new [[villa rustica]] in Stari Grad Plain and also on the previously vacant eastern shores were built.
[[File:Blick auf Stari Grad.jpg|thumb|A view of [[Stari Grad, Croatia|Stari Grad]] on Hvar]]
In the early Middle Ages, [[Slavic tribes]] occupied the island. In the first half of the 7th century the [[Narentines]] took over the island. [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] sailors saw the island while sailing towards the south and were threatened by the Narentine pirates from the island. In the 11th century the island joined the [[Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)|Kingdom of Croatia]]. In the 12th century, the rise of the [[Republic of Venice]] brought vines and wine cultivation which blossomed into a major industry for the island in the Middle Ages.{{cn|date=February 2023}} The island eventually again fell under Byzantine rule, and then under the Kingdom of Croatia and Hungary. In 1331 the Venetians put the island under protection from threats of piracy. According to the 1358 [[Treaty of Zadar]], the island was handed over to the [[Kingdom of Hungary]]. For short time in the summer of 1390, it was held by the Bosnian king [[Tvrtko I of Bosnia|Stephen Tvrtko I]]. In 1409, the Republic of Venice finally again became its long-term owner.{{cn|date=February 2023}} The island became prosperous from fishing, and the cultivation of rosemary, lavender and olives.

Hvar is important to the [[history of Croatia]] as it was one of the centres of [[Croatian literature]] during the [[Renaissance]], with writers such as [[Petar Hektorović]] and [[Hanibal Lucić]]. In Stari Grad, tourists can see the Petar Hektorović fortress/villa called [[Tvrdalj Castle]], architectonically designed by the poet himself. Churches on the island contain many important paintings and artworks by famous Venetian artists, including [[Tintoretto]], [[Paolo Veronese|Veronese]], [[Giovanni Bellini|Bellini]] and others. In 1797 Hvar was annexed with the fall of the Venetian Republic by the [[Habsburg monarchy]] as per the [[Treaty of Campo Formio]]. But forces of the [[First French Empire|French Empire]] seized it in 1806 during the [[Napoleonic wars]] before finally being taken by British marines and sailors in 1812.
[[File:Island of hvar panorama 2011.jpg|500px|right|thumb|Panoramic view of the town of Hvar]]
The [[Austria]]ns regained control of the island in 1815 with the [[Treaty of Vienna (1815)|Treaty of Vienna]]. The beginning of the 20th century brought a period of relative prosperity. The Italian army occupied the island from 1918 until 1921, when Hvar with the rest of Croatia joined the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]. In 1939, an autonomous [[Croatian Banate]] was formed that included the island. During WWII, it was under the control of [[Independent State of Croatia]], but under military occupation of [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Fascist Italy]] until 1943. After 1945, it became a part of [[Socialist Republic of Croatia|People's Republic of Croatia]], a constituent republic of [[Communist Yugoslavia]]. [[Juan Vucetich|Ivan Vučetić]], the man who perfected [[dactyloscopy]] at the turn of the 20th century, came from Hvar island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vučetić, Ivan |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/vucetic-ivan |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=www.enciklopedija.hr |language=hr}}</ref> In the 21st century, Hvar's citizens include football player [[Igor Tudor]] and politician [[Tonči Tadić]].

==Economy==
[[File:Lavender fields.jpg|thumb|[[Lavender]] fields on Hvar]]
Residents of Hvar mostly work in the fishing and tourism industries. Hvar has a very mild [[Mediterranean climate]], several beaches and Mediterranean vegetation that make it one of the most attractive tourist centres in Europe. The island promotes itself as "the sunniest spot in Europe", with over 2715 hours of sunlight in an average year.

[[Hvar (city)|Hvar town]] is the main tourist centre. It features a large public square (St Stephen's Square/''trg Sv. Stjepana'') that is open to the sea. During the tourist season, the port is filled with large [[yacht]]s and [[sailboat]]s. All-night [[Discothèque|discos]] attract large crowds of young visitors.

Another major economic activity is the cultivation of [[lavender]], used for aromatic oils and soaps. Hvar is often called the "island of lavender".{{cn|date=January 2023}}

Hvar is also one of the two most famous winemaking zones in Croatia. [[Vineyard]]s on the southern side of the island are famous for red wines produced from the [[Plavac Mali]] grape. The central plain between [[Stari Grad, Croatia|Stari Grad]] and [[Jelsa, Croatia|Jelsa]] is famous for its white wines.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Etymology==
As a [[Colonies in antiquity|Greek colony]], the island initially was known as ''Paros'' (Πάρος) because it was colonized by Greeks from the island of [[Paros|Paros in Aegean]],<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3D5%3Asection%3D5 Strabo, Geography, 7.5.5]</ref> and later as ''Pharos'' (Φάρος) "lighthouse". However, it is not clear if the name really comes from the Greek word for lighthouse.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} It was more likely an Illyrian word "Fara" that in modern Albanian, translates to seed!since it is unlikely that the lighthouse preceded the name for the island.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} During the 3rd century BC, the Greek poet [[Apollonius of Rhodes]] referred to it as ''Piteyeia'' – a name derived from the Greek word ''pitys'', meaning [[pine tree]].{{cn|date=January 2023}}

From the 7th century onwards, the [[Dalmatia (theme)|Byzantine Theme of Dalmatia]], including ''Fara'', was settled by the [[Pannonian Avars]] and [[Croats]]. However, the population initially remained culturally [[Illyro-Roman]] and part of the [[Byzantine Empire under the Heraclian dynasty|Byzantine Roman]] world.{{cn|date=December 2022}} Under the linguistic influence of the newcomers, the official name became ''Quarra'' – because the [[Slavic languages]] did not originally have the [[Voiceless labiodental fricative|/f/-sound]]. Later, the name was [[Slavicisation|Slavicised]] further as Hvar.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

Since the late 11th century, the [[Italian language|Italian]] name of the island has been ''Lesina'' or, in [[Venetian language|Venetian]], ''Liesena''. These names appear to have their origin in the [[Proto-Slavic]] root ''les-'', meaning "wood" or "forest". ''Liesena'' was the official name during the era of [[Venetian Dalmatia]] (16th and 17th centuries).{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

==See also==
* [[Hvar Observatory]]
* [[List of ancient cities in Illyria]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Island of Hvar}}
* [http://www.hvar.hr/ Official site of Hvar Island]
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121220053056/http://www.tzhvar.hr/en Tourist board of City of Hvar]

{{Islands of Croatia}}
{{Inhabited Islands of Croatia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hvar| ]]
[[Category:Greek colonies in Illyria]]
[[Category:Islands of Croatia]]
[[Category:Islands of the Adriatic Sea]]
[[Category:Landforms of Split-Dalmatia County]]