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Island Vis
The island of Vis is the most protruding
Croatian island with an area of 90.30 km2. The channel of Hvar separates
it from the island of Hvar, and the Biševo channel from the island of
Biševo. It is approximately 60 miles away from the Italian coast.
The island has three mountains
stretching across it, and between these mountains are karstic fields.
Hum has the highest altitude (585 m), Sveti Duh (563 m), and Mali Hum
(514 m).
The locals are into agriculture, fishing and tourism. The coasts of the
island are sloped and separated. To the west of the island is the Komiza
bay and to the north is the Vis harbor.
The first people settled in Vis in 3000
B.C. They were of Mediterranean background. In 2000 B.C. they were
pushed aside by the Illyrians which formed their own government in the
fifth and sixth century B.C.
The Sirakuski tyrant of Dimitrij the Elder in approximately 397 years
B.C. established his colony on Vis and its settlers expanded their
influence towards the central-Dalmatian islands.
The Illyrian king Agron I and queen Teuta, who where defeated by the
Romans in 219 B.C., threatened the authority of Vis (Issa). Since then
Issa has acknowledged the authority of Rome.
After the downfall of the Western Roman
Empire (year 476), Vis at one time acknowledged the authority of the
Goths and then the Byzantines.
The Croats started settling in Vis in the seventh century.
Vis was occupied and destroyed by the Venetians and under Venetian
authority from 1420. With peace in Campoformio in 1797, Venice hands it
over to Austria, and after peace in Požun in 1805 it comes under the
French who fortify it. In March 1811, the English fleet struck a hard
defeat to the French-Italian fleet and occupied Vis.
By Regulations of the Vienna Congress of
1814, it was returned to Austria till 1918 when it was occupied by the
Italians. In 1921, by the Rapal Contract, it belonged to the Kingdom of
Serbs, Croats, and Slovenians. In 1941 it was occupied by the Italians
under whose government it stayed until the capitulation of Italy in
1943.
After this it became the military-navy
base of the Partisan army in socialistic Yugoslavia, Vis was closed to
outsiders because of its strategic position (this regulation was
terminated in 1989) and the entire island was turned into a large
military fort.
But this isolation, however difficult it
was for the inhabitants of the island of Vis, placed Vis among the
favorite destinations of the entire Mediterranean when Croatia became
independent. Beautiful beaches, preserved nature, ecological agriculture
and preserved traditional architecture are unique advantages of this
unique island.
Vis has always been an island of fishermen and winegrowers. Komiza on
the island of Vis is considered the cradle of fishing in the Adriatic,
and in times gone by, the Komiza fishermen where well known in all
Mediterranean harbors as experts in their field. Today the Fishing
Museum in Komiza shows the famous history of the Vis fishermen
It is said that the first grape vine in
Dalmatia was planted by the ancient Greeks and that it was planted on a
Vis field.
The Greek writer Agatarhid said that the
wine from Vis was, compared to all others, better.
The most famous authentic white wine is
definitely the famed Vis Vugava, which you can try in numerous
restaurants and cellars on the island.
If we add to this unique historical,
cultural, and natural heritage the beautiful crystal clear sea, stunning
hidden beaches, bays and islands, kind hosts and comfortable
accommodation in private houses and apartments , it is clear why Vis is
the favorite tourist destination for those visitors who want to try the
unique and almost gone authentic Mediterranean environment and way of
life.
DISTANT ISLES:
Brusnik, Svetac, Jabuka i Palagruza. Brusnik is an uninhabitet volcanic
isle with a size about 200 meters. Some endemic species live on the
isle. It is a protected area by the law to preserve its flora and fauna.
Brusnik is 12 miles away from Komiza. Jabuka is a volcanic rock 97
meters high, uninhabitet and difficult to access. It is also home of
some enedemic species and rich with fish. It is 36nm away from Komiza.
Svetac is an island 15 miles away from Komiza, size about 4 square km,
with a village Sv. Andrija and an iliric fortress. Palagruza is a most
distant group of 4 isles, 43 miles away from Komiza. There is a
lighthouse built 1875 and an archeologic site from old greece. The sea
area around Palagruza is very rich with fish.
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