STARI GRAD (PHAROS)

Is historical heart of the island Hvar, ancient Pharos. It was built on the place where the deep bay passes into rich island fields, Arcadian valley whit vineyards and olive-groves. The town is surrounded with pine tree forest and cooled with summer breeze (maestral). In the hot summer days it is one of the rare Dalmatian places where the air is fresh and the sleep refreshing. Stari Grad is situated in the center of the island and it is an ideal place to start long walks and trips around the sunny island field with the sweet smell of herbs and flowers. A thousand years long history of the Town has left many monuments in the urban structure of the Town.
The Town Walls of Pharos were built by the Greek colonizers in 4th century BC, Roman mosaics, the Church of St. John from the Early Christian period, the complex of streets built in the Middle Ages and above all Tvrdalj - the Renaissance fortifield castle with the fish-pond and Petar Hektorović's park (the poet of Ribanje i ribarsko prigovaranje - "Fishing and Fishermen's Narrations") are signposts through a millenium long life of the Town. A walk through the Stari Grad center, narrow streets and small squares brings the whisperings of the past times.
The hotel complex Helios with high class hotels and bungalows posseses heir own sport grounds and beaches. There are also comfortable private accomodations, taverns and restaurants with healthy home-made food and traditionally good island wines. All gives an opportunity for unforgettable holidays.