Hvar - Lavender Island
Hvar (Skjvar) is located in the province of Dalmatia southwest of Split on the mainland. Other major islands in Dalmatia are Brač (Bratch), Šolta (Scholta), Korčula (Kortchula), Vis, Lastovo and Mljet, of which Brač is the largest in area.
Hvar's area is close to 300 km2 and the island has a population of 11,000. The island's capital and most populous city is Hvar, which shares its name with the island.
Hvar's famous history begins like several other places in Dalmatia with Greek colonization. The island of Hvar was colonized by Ionian Greeks in the 4th century BC. At the protected great bay on the island's northern lowlands, the town of Pharos was established at the site of the town of Stari Grad today. On the mountainous south side, near the western tip, the community of Dimos was established in the place where the town of Hvar is located today.