Vis

The island of Vis is a pearl among Croatian Adriatic islands, left untouched by the development of tourism for so many years - due to its strategic location on the open sea, it served as a military zone for many years. Since the independence of Croatia, the island began opening slowly to the outside world, offering it's unique traditions, history, cultural heritage and natural beauties to the outside world, and it is slowly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. During the long and turbulent history of the island of Vis, many of it's inhabitants were leaving the island in search for better life, mainly across the ocean to Americas and Australia, taking with them their knowledge and skills and helping developing this emerging countries. Today, many of their descendants from all over the world come to visit the island of their forefathers, and are astounded by the beauty and the cultural heritage of their homeland, wondering why their ancestors ever left the island of Vis. There are many of reasons, but most common ones were economic reasons - in the past the livelihood of the inhabitants of the island of Vis mainly depended on agriculture and fishing, and seasonal shortfalls of production due to bad weather or pestilence would render great economic difficulties for the population of the island of Vis, forcing them to leave the island. Today, this trend has changed and many foreigners come to the island of Vis, never to leave it again - making this beautiful Croatian island their home.

The island of Vis is the most protruding Croatian island with an area of 90.30 km2. It is surrounded by an archipelago of smaller islands and islets: Ravnik, Budikovac, Bisevo, Svetac, Jabuka, Brusnik and Palagruza. The nearest island to the east is the greenest Croatian island - the island of Korcula. Even though Vis and Korcula are neighbouring islands, there are no direct ferry nor catamaran connections between them, but it is possible to organise boat transfer for those without a car. Further more to the south-east, the archipelago of the island of Lastovo is located, which today is a nature park. The channel of Hvar separates it from the island of Hvar, and the Bisevo channel from the island of Bisevo. 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 (587 m), Sveti Duh (563 m), and Mali Hum (514 m). (See map of Vis) 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 harbour, which are also two most important and largest island settlements and urban centres, connected by a regular bus connection that goes across the island. Along the coast of the island of Vis there are numerous small bays and coves, with modern houses which offer private accommodation in apartments and holiday houses, two biggest being Milna and Rukavac, situated on the south-eastern shore of the island.

Vis, beach StinivaTown Komiza on the island of VisIsland Vis, Milna bay

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 Syracuse 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 and coast, establishing their sub colonies in Lumbarda on the island of Korcula, Trogir (Tragurion) and Stobrec (Epetion). 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 favourite 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 Croatian island.
Town Vis
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 harbours 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 and Croatia 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 favourite tourist destination for those visitors who want to try the unique and almost gone authentic Mediterranean environment and way of life. We invite you to visit Vis island,