Guests on the tour ‘Off Road Hvar’ set off on jeeps through wild, different and hidden roads deep into the island where they can sense the spirit of former peasant life, enjoy the odours of lavender fields, get to know the history, enjoy the top quality wines, clear sea and a million-dollar view.
It has become somewhat boring to experience the island of Hvar as a place for partying, making nights, walking by yachts of world famous tycoons that cost tens of millions of dollars; then take a selfie in front of them as proof of having been at an “in” destination. That is reserved for tourists. We are addressing travellers, those who during their dream vacation want to see something more, season it by enjoying all five senses. But in that desire they see that only time is missing on Hvar for Hvar travellers are always in lack of time to get to know the details of abandoned villages, fishing ports, lavender fields, eating in less known but perfect taverns … tasting Hvar bogdanuša (dry white wine) from nearby Vrboska under the grape arbour, and parč(quality dry white wine) from the eastern part of the island or plavac mali from the southern vineyards.
Siniša Šime Matković-Mikulčić from Hvar, owner of the travel agency “Secret Hvar” was among the first on the island to offer something new and he addresses the real gourmands of gastronomy, oenology, culture, traditional heritage regardless of which part of the world they may come from.And what is new is going to the heart of the island where the local bus, taxi or car cannot take you. You can get there only in a strong jeep, in small groups and with an experienced guide that will know the answer to any of your questions, as well as to make you think for a long time of what you have experienced on the island.
Ten percent of lavender world production
– “Be active – be Hvar”. We were guided by this theme when we started with this tour a couple of years ago and called it “Off Road Hvar”. Just like the title itself suggests, that is Hvar from the prism of wild, different and hidden roads. And in practice it looks like this – we set off in the morning with a group of at most ten people and towards the first stop, the abandoned village of Malo Grablje. It came to be in the 16th century and people started leaving it and going towards the sea, in Milna, already in the first half of the past century. Visitors there see the pjover, rain collector, old mill, olive press, sense the spirit of the earlier peasant way of living. The road takes us to nearby Velo Grablje. In that once lively place lavender planting started in 1929. Did you know that once Hvar produced 10 percent of the world lavender production? We explain that to them also–Šime describes the Hvar tour to us.
Never enough information. In the following stages of our tour, guests get to know the concept of Hvar lacemaking made by the Benedictine nuns in the town monastery. And once they arrive at the next stage, the old town plateau appears before them and with that the story of the Old Town the Greeks …
– all that is a small part of secret Hvar. The tour has been well accepted and it is interesting that the guests themselves called it a tour for all five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. The wild and awkward trails not known to many locals. Modern and active tourists in a column of at most three robust jeeps set off deep into the island, into history, heritage, culture – says the tour organizer.
Mostly Americans and Australians
The direction from Vidikovac is on terraced fields that were once full of vines but now, after the vines were destroyed by the fatal filoksera, they are full of lavender. The road then leads towards old island stone huts, Hvar trims and then onto fields full of lavender where several pieces are picked. And then, accompanied by the scent of Hvar starts the climb to the highest Hvar peak, Saint Nicholas, towards the north wind million-dollar viewwhich reaches even Italy. From that impressively silent spot travellers have the opportunity of seeing the other Hvar interesting attraction protected by UNESCO, the old town ager, and on the southern side the famous steep vineyards of Plavac mali.
–Svirče and Dol follow with their specific stone architecture, and the story of the third UNESCO symbol of Hvar, the Procession of the Cross, and the food prepared under the baking lid waiting for hungry guests, then bathing in Vrboska or Ivan Dolac. In the end, in the early evening, after a whole day of enjoying the outdoor, scents, sea, delicacies, and Hvar wine, follows the return to the city. The guests are delighted. When we started off with the tour, we mostly had Scandinavians and today it is mostly Americans and Australians who remain amazed at the wealth of our history and tradition. That is why we are keeping to our theme “Be active – be Hvar”. Our aim is to promote Hvar as it really is, rich in history and culture, autochthonous gastronomy and famous wines, preserved nature and clean sea. Therefore, just the opposite of the contrived picture of Hvar that is forced upon us by the media, the artificially created glitter, false celebrities and unbridled parties – says Siniša Šime Matković-Mikulčić.
An outdoor gallery
The town of Hvar has so many places where a selfie can be taken, such as the once exceptionally important port which can be well defined as an interactive outdoor gallery. Šime suggests another interesting tour, the one along the town centre with some indispensable addresses. Besides the magnificent palaces in the very centre, Grod, the lively Square with the cathedral of St. Stephen, Hvar Theatre,Arsenal, Loggia, not far from them the Franciscan monastery. And from above, the notable Fortica looks down on it all with its unforgettable view of Grod, Paklenjak, many anchored yachts and boats…
