Eco Tuk Tuk Tour - Hvar hidden gems

Once we enter the village, you’ll see groups of huddled stone houses and roofs covered in a type of tile used in the Mediterranean since the Roman days. Regarding architecture, the village has preserved its authentic, traditional Mediterranean feel, which is so rare and so valuable. Stopping in this village is opportunity to buy local homemade lavender souvenirs. After the village we will be driving through the lavender fields and dry stone walls. After a while tour brings us to the St. Roko chapel. A place with amazing view at Stari Grad town and Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO).

Some 5 km from Brusje there is a village Velo Grablje, founded in the 14th century. Stone houses and courtyards still capture your attention with its fascinating architecture, while walking within its narrow streets you will feel the breath of pass times. Today the village is nearly abandoned having but a few permanent villagers, although it was rich and prosperous place, famous for its good wine and olive oil production. Honey production was well known as well, together with lavender oil being the leading one in Europe of the time.

Only few kilometers down the road from Velo Grablje lies the village of Malo Grablje, less than one square mile in area. Beginning in the 14th century, generations of residents produced olive oil, wine, and lavender oil in the hills overlooking the Adriatic Sea. But in the early 20th century, blight destroyed the town's olive trees and grape vines. This forced most of the residents of Malo Grablje south to the more modern town of Milna, where they invested their profits from previous harvests in alternative industries like fishing. By the 1960s, the town was mostly abandoned, and as of 2011, there were officially zero recorded residents.

After visiting Malo Grablje we will arrive in Milna, once in the past used to be their harbor wher they used to keep fishing boats and gear, but today mostly focused on tourism.

Back to Hvar town and visit to Fortica fortress. The construction of this fort began after 1278, when Hvar came under Venetian rule. The medieval castle, together with the town walls, represented a unique defense system for the town of Hvar. By 1551, a new Renaissance fort, similar to the one today, was built on the site of the old Gothic castle. The fort was severely damaged in 1579 due to an explosion in a gunpowder warehouse. Repairs were only completed at the beginning of the 17th century, when new buildings and bastions were built. The last buildings were erected during the 18th and 19th centuries during Austrian rule, when Fortica got its present appearance. This place offers beautiful view on Hvar harbor and surrounding islands. Please note that we are not entering inside of the castle but we will spend time in the area in front of it which offers almost the same experience.