Travel Destinations: Brac, Croatia

For most westerners, Croatia is fast becoming a popular tourist destination for several reasons; the country has some incredibly beautiful beaches, good food, great cultural attractions, relatively unscarred by other tourists and is much cheaper than other destinations in Europe.

The island of Brac lies nine nautical miles south of Split by ferry or catamaran. You can visit Brac as a day trip if you are visiting Split, but to really explore the island it is best to stay a night or two. There are several really nice hotels that you can choose from.

Brac Island is famous for his gorgeous beach and the ideal spot for windsurfing. You can catch the early morning Jadrolinjia ferry from Split to Supetar. After you dock, catch a bus to the other side of the island to the south coast or else you can catch another ferry that will take you to Bol.

There are some wonderful cultural attractions here on Brac, but the island is famous for its beach. Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) can be found on the south coast near the little fishing village of Bol. Tree line the promenade from the village to the beautiful cape consisting of tiny pebbles which stretch 0.75 km out to sea.

Depending on the season and the winds, this cape is ever-changing. This is the ideal spot if you like to wind-surf and the shallow waters make it a perfect place if you have children travelling with you.

There are some wonderful places just waiting for you to explore them. Take a trip to the Galerija Branislav Deskovic (Branislav Deskovic Gallery) where you can discover over 300 paintings and sculptures made by 20th century Croatian artists who all have one thing in common – they have been inspired by the island of Brac and the sea.

The Dominikanski Samostan (Dominican Monastery) is another site that should not be missed. It is situated on the western fringes of Bol and was established in 1457. The monastery houses a famous 16th century painting by the Venetian Tintoretto and also showcases some important ancient Greek coins and amphorae that have been excavated on the nearby islands of Hvar and Vis.

You can also take a boat trip to the 16th century Pustinja Blaca (Blaca Hermitage) which was built into a cliff face overlooking the sea. When you leave the boat, it is a one mile hike up to the building where you can see an old collection of furniture and clocks. The views from up here are simply amazing, especially at sunset.

Brac may not be the firstchoice when you start planning your holiday, but it is a beautiful island and should not be overshadowed by its neighbouring islands. Book your holiday to Brac today, you will not be disappointed.