Municipality of Nerežišća – Nature, Churches and Island History
Accommodation in Municipality of Nerežišća
The Municipality of Nerežišća brings together protected landscapes, churches, old traditions and striking traces of the island’s history. Nerežišća lies at the crossroads of Brač’s main roads and on the slopes of the island’s largest plain. This makes it an interesting place to look for a holiday apartment if you want to focus your stay on nature and cultural discoveries on Brač.
File:Church of St. Margaret in Nerežišća 20210719.jpg
Photo: Argo Navis via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Vidova gora and protected landscapes
Vidova gora is a protected landscape; its highest peak is Sutvid, at 778 metres. Most of the area lies within the Municipality of Nerežišća, where it has been protected since 1973. Dolina Blaca is also a protected landscape within the municipality and has been protected since 1986. If you are planning to include scenery and outdoor activities in your stay, these are two distinct natural features that shape the character of the area.
The Vidova gora educational trail is intended for pedestrians and cyclists. It begins at the turn-off for Vidova gora, at the second kilometre of the Nerežišća–Bol road, and ends at the highest peak on the island of Brač. You can therefore consider this route as a hiking or cycling destination. The information describes its route and intended use, not its duration or difficulty.
Blaca: museum and walking route
The Pustinja Blaca Museum can be reached from Nerežišća by car, via the Vidova gora area to the Dragovoda area. From there, you must continue on foot for about half an hour. This final stretch is an important difference from an excursion planned entirely by car. When planning your holiday, it is therefore worth treating Blaca as a special destination that involves a walk.
The museum preserves 18th-century portraits, several Baroque paintings, old firearms belonging to Blaca sailors and used to defend against pirates, Glagolitic missals and a small printing press. The collection ranges from works of art and written records to objects associated with defence at sea. As well as a route through the landscape, Blaca offers a tangible insight into different chapters of the island’s history.
Churches, settlement traces and traditions
Several remarkable sites can be found in Donji Humac. The Parish Church of Saints Fabian and Sebastian houses a valuable 13th-century fresco, described as one of the oldest in southern Croatia; the church is also described as a pilgrimage destination for many faithful. Nearby is the 10th-century Chapel of Saint Elijah, built on the remains of a Roman mausoleum. Donji Humac also has the early Romanesque Chapel of Saint Luke, dating from the 11th or 12th century.
The Kopačina cave, considered the oldest known human settlement on Brač, is also near Donji Humac. Traces of human activity dating from the 8th to the 3rd millennium BC have been found there. Old stone houses and structures, preserved traditions and folk customs are also among the things Donji Humac is known for. Another architectural feature is the Church of Our Lady of Carmel, surrounded by symmetrical, stone-built manor houses with elaborate decoration.
In Nerežišća, the tradition of Balun o ruke has been preserved. During Museum Night 2018, teams played on the roof of the unique 14th-century Crkva sv. Petra, where a dwarf pine more than two hundred years old grows. The Frane Senjković Memorial with Balun o ruke is part of a festival in honour of Saint Margaret, the patron saint of Nerežišća. The combination of a traditional game, church architecture and unusual tree growth gives this place a distinctive local history.
Dračevica also adds to the picture of the island’s history: the parish church of Bezgrešnog Začeća BDM dates from 1770 and was extended in 1904. Dračevica was also home to the largest windmill on Brač; it once ground grain for the entire island. The windmill should therefore be understood as a historic feature, not as a current amenity.
Wine, olive oil and a suitable place to stay
A wine and olive oil experience in Nerežišća welcomes visitors to a traditional setting featuring old stone houses, a traditional wine cellar, an ethnographic house and a vineyard. Tastings include an informative presentation on winemaking and olive oil production. Offerings include Plavac Mali Franulić wine, as well as olive oil, olives, cheese and capers.
If you are mainly interested in the churches, culture and food and drink associated with Nerežišća, the town is a natural starting point for searching for a holiday apartment. If you plan to visit Blaca, also allow for the approximately half-hour walk from the Dragovoda area.
For the broader travel overview: Brač.
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