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Island of Brac
BRAČ is an
island in the Adriatic Sea within Croatia, making it the third largest island
in the Adriatic, and thus the largest in Dalmatia. Its tallest peak,
Vidova Gora, or Mount St. Vid, stands at 778 m, making it the highest island
point in the Adriatic. The island population living in numerous little towns,
ranging from the 'main town' Supetar, with more than 3,500 inhabitants, to
Novo Selo, where only a dozen people live. BRAC, the largest island of the
central Dalmatian group of islands, the third largest among the Adriatic
islands; area 394.57 sq km; population 13,824. It is separated from the
mainland by the Brac Channel, from the island of Solta by the
so-called Splitska Vrata (Split Gate) and from the
island of Hvar by the Hvar Channel. The highest peak of the island,
Vidova Gora (Vitus' Mount) (778 m), is also the highest peak of all Croatian
islands.
The limestone part of the coast is rocky and steep, while the rest is rather
low and sandy (on the southern side from Farska to Bol, and on the
northern side from Sutivan to Supetar). The island landscape is
dominated by a karst limestone relief, with numerous gullies, crevices,
cavities, round valleys and coves. Milder forms of the relief, with brown
Primorje soils (the most fertile on the island), are found mostly in the
interior (especially between Lozisca and Nerezisca, as well as between Selca,
Novo Selo and Sumartin). Average air temperatures in January range between
4.9°C (Praznice) and 7.2 °C (Sutivan), and in July between 22.9 °C
(Nerezisca, elevation 360 m) and 24.7 °C (Sutivan).
The economy of Brač
is based mostly on tourism, but fishing and agriculture are very important too,
as is its precious white stone (which was used in building Diocletian's
Palace in Split) and White House in Washington, D.C.. Historically, Brač was
famous for goats; even Pliny comments that from the island of Brattia (the
Latin name for the island) comes excellent cheese, wine and olive oil.
Rainfall occurs mostly in the winter months. The annual rainfall in Praznice
reaches 1,450 mm and in Sutivan about 830 mm. The climate on the
island is mostly moderated by winds, i.e. the sirocco and the bora (the
so-called "vruljska" bora between Pucisca and Povlja).
The landward breeze occurs quite often in the summer months, especially along
the north-western coast. There are no surface water streams on the island.
Permanent water sources are provided only around Bol. Higher parts of the
island (above 400 m) are at some places covered with black and Aleppo pine
forests; larger or smaller forests of Aleppo pine are found around all
coastal towns and villages; dominant are dense evergreen underbrush (macchia)
and rocky ground.
The largest places are and Supetar, Pucisca and Bol. Major
farming products are olive oil, wine and fruit; chief occupations include
also livestock breeding and fishing. Fish canneries are located in Postira
and Milna. Major quarries, where the famous Brac building stone is
excavated, are located near Pucisca, Selca, Postira, Splitska and Donji Humac
(this kind of building stone was used in the construction of the White House
in Washington and the Palace of Diocletian in Split). A road network has been
constructed throughout the island; ferry lines Split - Supetar, Makarska - Sumartin;
ship lines with Supetar and Bol. Airport (for smaller aircraft) above Bol.
Archeological findings date the existence of human communities on the
island back to the palaeolithic. Nevertheless, there are no traces of human
habitation from the neolithic. In the Bronze Age and Iron Age, Illyrian tribes
populated the inner parts of the island. Numerous villages existed at that
time. In the 4th century BC Greek colonization spread over many Adriatic
islands and along the shore, but none of them on Brač. Nevertheless, Greeks
visited the island and also traded with the Illyric tribes; Greek artefacts
were found in the bay of Vičja near Ložišća. Brač lay on the crossroads of
several trade routes from Salona (today Solin) to Issa (today Vis) and the Po
River.
Some ten sanctuaries date back to the early Christian times (the three-foil
church in Sutivan, the three-nave basilica with the baptistery in
Povlja and Postira, Supetar). The first churches in pre-Romanesque style
appeared in the 10th century after that sacral buildings started to follow
the styles of the development of the Croatian architecture with Romanesque
features (St. George above Brac, St. Elias near Donji Humac). The 15th
century was characterized by more complex architectural forms and the
Renaissance order was applied in the construction of the church in Postira
and the Dominican church in Bol. The Baroque-style architecture saw its best
moments in the construction of churches. The high level of architectural
design was maintained in the 19th century as well. The construction in the
20th century consisted mainly in a number of accommodation
and other tourist facilities. On the island of Brac you can find
accommodation in hotels, apartments, holiday houses, luxury villas, rooms and
camp-sites. If You are on Brac, and You want the trip, we recommend Makarska Riviera
(ferry from Sumartin), ancient city of Split (ferry from Supetar),
and the islands of Hvar, Vis, Korcula and Lastovo.
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