Hvar · Croatia

Španjola Fortress, Hvar

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moderate

9/10

best: late afternoon, sunset

panoramic, historic, romantic

A local would say...

The Turks burned Hvar to the ground — twice. The Venetians built this fortress so they'd never get a third chance.

A 16th-century Venetian fortress perched high on the hill above Hvar town, built to defend against Turkish raiders who sacked the city twice, commanding panoramic views over the harbour, Pakleni islands, and the Adriatic. The steep climb up to the fortress winds through the lavender-scented island landscape that gives Hvar its nickname, the Croatian Madeira. The view from the walls is one of the finest in Dalmatia.