Municipality of Nerežišća: Nature and Island History
Accommodation in Municipality of Nerežišća
On Brač, Nerežišća lies at the junction of the island’s main roads and on the slopes of its largest plain. The municipality’s distinctive landscapes include protected Vidova Gora and the Blaca Valley, which is also protected as a significant landscape. Mountain country, historic places and traces of island life give a trip here several possible directions: you can focus on hiking and cycling, or explore churches, old village centres and Brač traditions.
Vidova Gora: on foot or by bike
Most of Vidova Gora extends across the territory of the Municipality of Nerežišća. Hiking and mountain trekking are possible on the mountain. The “Vidova gora” educational trail is also intended for walkers and cyclists. Its starting point is at the second kilometre of the Nerežišća–Bol road. This gives you a specific starting point if you are planning an outing in this part of the island.
Another option for cyclists is the “Biking Vidova Gora–Dol” route, which passes through Nerežišća and is 22 kilometres long. The educational trail and cycling route are different offerings; the stated distance refers to the cycling route. If you are looking for a holiday apartment on Brač, you can consider whether you want outdoor activities to be the focus of your stay, or whether village history and culture appeal more.
Blaca and its different routes
The Blaca hermitage can be reached by either of two described approaches: along a wide road from Blaca Bay or via a hiking trail from the island’s interior. This trail passes through Nerežišća, by the Žurmo pond and through the hamlet of Dragovode. The two options differ in their nature: here, you can choose between a road and a hiking trail.
The site’s history also shapes a visit: the hermitage has preserved its furnishings, which are now on display in the museum collection. Together with the protected Blaca Valley, this place brings landscape and cultural history together. When planning your holiday on Brač, you can therefore consider Blaca as a destination in its own right for an interest in nature and history.
Churches, wells and island traditions
In Donji Humac, the parish church of St Fabian and Sebastian preserves a 13th-century fresco. It is considered one of the oldest frescoes in southern Croatia and continues to draw many pilgrims. The chapel of St Peter in Nerežišća houses a relief by Brač sculptor Lazaneo. The surroundings of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also stand out: richly decorated stone manor houses are arranged symmetrically around it.
The town’s character also includes its traditional water systems. Nerežišća has significant examples of water supply through rainwater collection. Those interested in practical island life can find a different perspective here than through sacred buildings and art. The tradition of the handball game balun o ruke has also been preserved here and is considered one of the few surviving traditions of its kind.
In the old centre of Dračevica, Mediterranean-style houses are arranged around a central square. The village is known for its many Bucala wells. It was also once home to the largest windmill on Brač, which ground grain for the entire island. Dračevica lies on the road from Nerežišća towards Milna. This makes it a destination in its own right if you are interested in island villages and their history when choosing accommodation.
Traces of earlier times on Brač
Near Donji Humac is Kopačina Cave, a prehistoric archaeological site. It contains the oldest known traces of prehistoric humans on Brač, as well as animal bones and stone artefacts. The cave lies 500 metres west of the Gnjilac quarry, northwest of Donji Humac. From a plateau on its southern side, the view extends across the Donji Humac valley to Bobovišća and over part of Brač’s west coast.
The Dragon’s Cave above Murvica also tells of an earlier use: in the 15th century, it served as a dwelling and temple for Glagolitic priests. They decorated the cave with unusual sculptures whose meaning has not yet been determined. These two places offer different points of connection to history, from prehistoric finds to traces of religious life in the Middle Ages.
Brač cuisine
Brač specialities are served at the “Vladimir Nazor” mountain hut: spit-roasted lamb, Vitalac, Dalmatian pršut, Brač wine and cheese. For travellers who want to include regional cuisine in their exploration alongside landscapes and history, this adds another theme to the range of things to discover during a stay on Brač.
For the broader travel overview: Split-Dalmatia.
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