Sightseeing in Vis Island - what to see. Complete travel guide

The Croatian island of Vis has become open for visitors quite recently. It has the greatest distance from the mainland among Adriatic islands, which makes this beautiful site even more attractive in eyes of tourists. Fans of scenic beauty and excursion tourism would like it. The first mention of the island dates back to the 4th century AD; it has begun to attract travelers long time ago. In memory of the past times the island holds a lot of interesting architectural sites, each of which has unique history.

The capital of the island is the town of Vis. That’s a charming old town with unique atmosphere and unhurried way of life. Hereditary fishermen and winemakers, the true masters of their craft, live there. The main historical symbol of the city is the Franciscan Monastery built in the 16th century. The monastery was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum, its location is one of the most iconic of the island. In addition to the old monastery several beautiful churches built in the 16th - 17th centuries have survived in the capital. There is also an important archaeological site nearby. Everybody can see the ruins of the ancient city of Issa founded by early Greeks. The surviving part of the fortifications erected when the island of Vis was ruled by Venice can be seen next to the capital.

Another attractive sight is the town of Komiza located in the western part of the island. That’s the most distant island city of Croatia. The town features the main natural attraction of the island, Mount Hum. The height of the mountain is more than 580 meters; climbing its top is popular entertainment of Vis guests. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There is an amazing historic symbol, Venetian Tower, in the town. That’s the only surviving part of a larger defensive structure. Today the ancient tower is home to the amazing museum of fishing. The fact is that almost the entire population of Komiza specializes in fishing, so locals know everything about this type of harvesting. There are also interesting religious sites, including the Church of Our Lady of Pirates. It was built in the 16th century; the main decoration of the church is the handmade altar built in Baroque style. One of the oldest buildings is the Collegiate Church of the 13th century; the church of St. Nicholas would be interesting to see too.

In the immediate vicinity of Komiza there is the small Bishevo Island, a visit to which should also be included in the excursion program. This tiny island is home to one of the most amazing and attractive sights, Blue caves. Their name fully describes the main feature; all items found in the cave are filled with blue light. Tourists can enjoy numerous exciting excursions along scenic places, during which they can see other, no less important historical and natural attractions of Vis.

Vis is famous as a popular beach recreation destination. Some of the best beaches of the Adriatic coast are located exactly in this resort. Zaglav is one of the most famous and crowded beaches of the region, but despite that fact is has managed to retain its original natural beauty. Visitors of this beach will be charmed by its amazing nature, but that is not the only advantage as the beach has a well-developed infrastructure. Stoncica Beach is located nearby. The beach is within a short distance of the settlement with the same name. This is a shallow sandy beach that is very comfortable even for those who cannot swim. Tourists with children make up a significant part of visitors, but fans of active pastime and various sports are also not rare.

Stoncica is an attractive fishing village. A significant part of the local population still has fishing as their main occupation. For a small fee, travelers can rent a boat and everything needed for fishing or simply join fishermen and help them. Teplus is one of the warmest and most shallow beaches on the island. It is considered an ideal destination for travelers with small children. If peaceful and calm places with few people are your choice, Grandovac Beach is an excellent destination. This wonderful beach is located in the bay with the same name.