Stari Grad Rijeka Ferry

Stari Grad Guide

The Croatian town of Stari Grad is located on the northern side of the island of Hvar in the Dalmatia region of Croatia. It lies at the end of a long protected bay and is thought to be one of the oldest towns in Europe. The ancient parts of the town were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of Stari Grad's position in the middle of the Hvar island, it has been a safe haven to sailors for centuries. Stari Grad bay is still regularly visited by most people travelling by boat through middle Dalmatia. A stroll through Stari Grad's centre, characterised by narrow streets and small squares, evokes a sense of the past. The most outstanding building in Stari Grad is Tvrdalj, a large and well preserved fortified castle once belonging to the noted Croatian poet, Petar Hektorovic. Notice the Latin and Croatian inscriptions in the walls and the statue of Petar Hektorovic in front of the castle.

From the town's port, ferry services operate to Pescara, Ancona, Rijeka, Korcula, Dubrovnik and Mljet.

Rijeka Guide

The Croatian city of Rijeka lies on the northern coast of the Gulf of Kvarner and is the country's largest port and the third largest city in Croatia, after Zagreb and Split. The city has a thriving cultural and artistic centre and has some of the best attractions in the country. Perhaps the most popular landmark in the city, which managed to survive an earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 18th century, is the Clock Tower (Gradski Toranj) and was built as an ornate gateway between the seafront and the city. Other popular landmarks in the city include St. Vitus Cathedral which was built in 1638 by Jesuits in honour of the city's patron saint, and is one of the city oldest landmarks and has giant marble pillars that support its central dome. Both the Governor's Palace (Guvernerova Palaca) and the Municipal Palace (Palaca Municipija) add a regal flavour to the city, while the ancient Town Wall and Old Gate offer an insight in to the former grandeur of the city's fortifications. There are other buildings that survive from the 18th century but a large part of the city was rebuilt and adopted a distinctive style from the Austrian Habsburg period.