A foreigner view: Magic of Easter on Hvar

By Paul Bradbury

Photo provided by Miranda Milicic Bradbury

While Hvar is famous for its sun, beaches and party atmosphere, is it nightlife of a very different kind which contributes to the most fascinating night of the year on the island - Maundy Thursday. No loud clubbing here, but the singing continues through the night until 7am, as six simultaneous processions return to their starting points in Jelsa, Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirce, Vrbanj and Vrboska, having walked 22km through the night, praying and chanting and following a barefoot cross-bearer as part of a UNESCO-protected 500 year-old tradition.

As a foreigner here for several years, Easter is my favourite time of year and provides a unique insight into life here, which is missed by many tourists. It is not so much the procession itself (although it is a phenomenon in its own right) as the atmosphere and joy which pervades the whole island, with Easter always being both a celebration and the unofficial end of the long winter.

It is, above all, a family occasion, with the island's students and young professionals returning home from Zagreb and elsewhere, to celebrate this religiously important festival. The cafes are brimming with chatter and laughter, as friends and family catch up over an espresso or two. Many bars and restaurants open for the season, and there is a vibrancy about the island, as it comes to life after the quiet winter.

It is a time of light as well, and the tradition of lighting every house during the procession bathes the town in brightness through the night, a fabulous sight to see as one enters the town. There is a special light for the house for the honoured position of cross-bearer, a huge illuminated cross in front of the house during the whole Easter period.

The procession takes about 8 hours, as the cross-bearer, accompanied by his acolytes in white robes, the religious congregation and many tourists, depart the six towns and villages and visit the other five locations through the night, stopping to pray in each village church en route. The sound of the chanting in the distance at different times through the night is magical, and sleep is somehow an afterthought, but the most special moment of all is about 0630 as the Jelsa congregation passes, chanting, directly under our terrace before descending down to the main square. It is the most amazing wake-up call and summons one immediately to the terrace where one emerges into bright early-morning sunshine and a Jelsa bathed in light.

Words cannot truly convey the magic of the Easter Procession in Jelsa, which has taken place every year uninterrupted since 1510. It has to be experienced, and it is an experience that will remain one of your most abiding memories of Hvar. Suncani Hvar Hotels understand this and have a spectacular Easter offer at Hotel Adriana, which is a true combination of tradition and luxury. The 4-day spa break includes transfers and participation in the procession, which is probably the most magical and memorable Hvar nightlife of all.

For more information on the Suncani Hvar Hotels Easter on Hvar offer, visit the Suncani Hvar website.

Month of love

Month of love on Croatia's sunniest island Hvar is consistently recognized as one of the sexiest and most exciting island destinations in the world. Hvar is loved world over for that inexplicable, but strongly captivating essence that, many of the visitors say, keeps you bound to this place long after loosing the sight of its shores. Therefore, Sunčani Hvar Hotels renamed February the Month of Love because it is no longer enough to celebrate the love for just one day.

Aiming to provide its guests an overall, memorable and authentic experience, while visiting Hvar at any season of the year, Sunčani Hvar Hotels are dedicated to originality and uniqueness, always offering a fine balance of high quality accommodation, guest oriented service, and exciting destination experience program.

The Month of Love will be celebrated throughout February in Hvar’s trendiest boutique hotel Riva. Perfectly located in Hvar’s marina, overlooking neighboring islands and uniquely designed, Riva is a natural choice for this romantic story.

“ Hvar is romantic for itself and it is no surprise that the island has recently become one of the most desirable wedding destinations in Croatia and our venues on top of the list for a perfect wedding day in Hvar. Couples from all over the world chose Hvar and our hotels to celebrate their love. In the Month of Love in Riva we encourage ladies to draw inspiration from an ancient Irish tradition, where every four years, on February 29th, the Month of Love culminates in marriage proposals to – men.“ – says Ivan Safundžić, hotel manager.

Apart from a small extras scented with aromatic Hvar lavander, relaxing spa treatmants and romantic settings at Riva's Superior rooms, the Month of love aims at introducing guests and visitors a like a natural and historical beauties of Hvar. Romantic walks to the centre of the old town, which boasts the largest square in Dalmatia, the magnificent Cathedral, the historic Arsenal and one of the oldest public theatres in Europe will be organized every weekend during the Month of Love.

Many people have yet to discover the hidden secrets of Hvar island and surrounding archipelago of the Paklinski islands. Hvar's winter charms and it's mild climate make a perfect setting for a romantic private picnik luch on one of hidden beaches on the neighbouring archipelago.

One of the highlights of the romantic weekends in February is without doubt a visit of Andro Tomić winery, one of Hvar’s award winning wineries, where world’s first tasting of Mr Tomić’s 2011 Opolo nobile rosé has been planned out. Think Beaujolais nouveau, but add Hvar and Love and the most amazing experience for all senses is guaranteed.

At Riva's Roots restaurant and colourful BB-club delicious meals will be served. All based on top class, natural local ingredients; fresh, tasty and creatively prepared by Riva's chef.

Following the sunset, the celebration of Love will reach it's climax by launching Chinese lanterns into the sky with your secret love message.

New Year on the island of sun – more than celebration

What is your ideal scenario for New Years? Looking simply for a good party or have something more original in mind?
The abundance of offers can really be overwhelming and it's really not so easy to decide where to go or what to choose. Everyone is offering excitement, music, dance, simply - plenty of fun, and the New Year is indeed the time to finally relax in a good mood and in festive spirit.
However, New Year in the city can be hectic and noisy, and don't we all need some time just for ourselves, away from the everyday rush and commercial pressure that we are so intensively exposed to, especially at this time of year.
Do we really need to spend a lot of time and money to have a ‘sparkling’, stressful New Years that will perhaps be fun, but in the end will only leave us with a hangover to remember it by?
What about a relaxing New Years break for a change? What about a picturesque island setting, a small boutique hotel where everybody will know your name, where you will be pampered and feel at home? What about nice, relaxing wellness and spa treatments scented with aromatic oil produced from locally grown herbs, authentic, high quality wines and delicious Mediterranean food served by hospitable locals?
These are only fragments of the scenario of unique Hvar New Years experience that we have designed for those who simply want something different and original. Something that will make us remembers all the scents and flavours, all the precious moments, all the feelings, pictures and colours.
We design it for those who want to enjoy the magical qualities of our island in December, who is keen to have moments of pleasure and authentic experience, for those looking for a romantic getaway to enter a new chapter of their lives refreshed, relaxed and enriched with a new memorable experience.

We wish you all a happy New Year and see you in Hvar!
Your Suncani Hvar team

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So Hvar so good

If Croatia is recognized as ‘a small country for a great vacation’ then Hvar is ‘a small island for the greatest vacation in Croatia’. Sounds pretentious and arrogant? If you ever been to Hvar then you for sure know what I am talking about.
The popularity of Hvar seems to be growing year after year as the word is spreading around the globe very fast. At the beginning compared to Ibiza or Saint Tropez, Hvar is slowly but surely becoming an international brand for itself.
What’s the catch? There is no doubt that the island’s nature is amazing, tradition and cultural heritage fascinating, that wine and food are great and people are friendly, but all these attributes can be easily used (and often are) to describe any of the Croatian islands. What makes Hvar so irresistible then? No one can really tell. Hvar’s simply a lovable place, offering a winning combination of fun, leisure, luxury, authenticity, local simplicity and international open minded spirit…it’s so colourful, so inspiring and so, well, unique - and whenever you mention Hvar to someone who has ever been there, you can bet that you are going to get the same reaction – a big smile followed by a sentimental sigh….from Bosnia to Brazil, the reaction is pretty much the same.
Summer stories from Hvar are told as legends. Sitting next to Kevin Spacey while having a morning cappuccino at the BB-club, or seeing John Malkovich eating his ice-cream with locals, this is part of Hvar’s everyday scenery. Apart from a few local paparazzi lined up in front of Riva hotel celebrities have nothing else to worry about. As one of Croatian TV stars said: I love Hvar since I can be glamorous and in the centre of attention if I want to, but also if I choose to swim naked and have bad hair day, I can always find a spot to be invisible.
TV characters, politicians, models, football players, mysterious multi- millionaire on gigantic, surreal yachts, but also back packers and students on their budget-limited summer tours. All of them share the same passion for a good time. Hvar’s for hedonists, not elitist at all, not exclusive but wide open for everyone and all. And this being so for over 140 years, how long the tradition of organized tourism is in Hvar and it will be so for as long as there will be people looking for the greatest vacation Croatia has to offer!

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Easter holidays on Hvar

Tourists searching for Easter tradition may wish to consider a Croatian holiday on the island of Hvar, where celebrations have not changed for more than 500 years.

Highlights of the religious ritual include a number of processions which start simultaneously and may take in the island's immaculate beaches. The Procession “Following the Cross” is a very pious ceremony and an expression of the religious and cultural identity of the population of the central part of Hvar Island. It has been taking place for nearly five centuries uninterrupted. On the night from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday, the Procession passes through 6 villages on the island: Jelsa, Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče, Vrbanj and Vrboska. At the same time, processions start from six parish churches with a cross-bearer ahead, wearing a heavy cross as a symbol of prayer or gratitude, as his own or family pledge. He is followed by a chosen suite in brotherhood tunics and numerous worshippers and pilgrims. They stop in front of churches and chapels in other villages where greeted by priests and return to their parish church before dawn. The people in the Procession pass 25 kilometres in 8 hours. It is prepared and conducted by brotherhoods, i.e. communities of Hvar believers whose history has been profoundly marked by the cross. The central part of the Procession is the Lamentations of the Virgin Mary, an octosyllabic Passion-related text dating from the 15th century, sang in a dialogue form by chosen singers - kantaduri.(www.min-kulture.hr)

This religious custom provides everyone around it with a unique spiritual experience. The Procession “Following the Cross” has been recently included on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage.

For those looking for a spring sunshine break a holiday in Hvar will be an excellent option. Temperatures in Hvar during April will stay around 15-20C, giving more than enough sunshine to pick up a golden tan. Easter holidays in Hvar are very popular with holiday makers who soak up the sun on the beaches or explore the neighbouring islands.

Enjoy Easter holidays at one of Sunčani Hvar hotels and experience a unique celebration of Easter on the sunny Island of Hvar.

Spring at last! Pick your favorite April special!

Hello sunshine! Hvar welcomes you!

After a long island winter, spring is finally here with all its colours, scents and beauty. Don't we all feel happier, more optimistic, more beautiful, as we wake up with the rays of morning sunshine coming in through our room windows? Life seems to be more beautiful and more easy when flowers are blossoming and birds singing, announcing a new season – a season of joy.
When people think about Hvar, first association linked to it is sun, sunshine. Sunny Hvar (or Sunčani Hvar in Croatian) is not just the name of our company, its an adjective inseparably attached to our beautiful island. Yes, there are places where nature is great and days are sunny, but don’t you wonder why everyone who ever comes on Hvar becomes addicted to it? Even out of pure curiosity. Hvar is not easy to describe even to the most articulate ones.
Why would you wait for the hot summer days to visit us. April on the island is absolutely amazing. Sunčani Hvar have April specials ready for two different but equally fascinating jewels within our group: hotel Amfora and hotel Palace. As the oldest hotel in Hvar, The Palace is a grand dame framed by gothic and renaissance architecture. History lovers will particularly enjoy its central location, which provides romantic views of the ancient piazza and neighbouring buildings such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, as well as glorious sunsets over the bay.
On the other hand, Amfora is an amazing beach resort, ideal for a family vacation or romantic getaway with a loved one.
Check out our April specials right away and choose your favourite spring nest. We shall be here, waiting for you and ready to share enthusiasm and positive energy!

New affordable solution for your Hvar summer vacation

In the upcoming season of 2011 Sunčani Hvar Hotels will have additional accommodation capacity available for rent. Dalmacija annex is a cute B&B perfectly located as an extension of hotel Dalmacija, the annex is an ideal solution for younger travellers looking for charming, comfortable yet simple and affordable accommodation while on their Croatian summer adventure.
Hotel Dalmacija annex is located on the waterfront promenade in a small bay just around the corner from the main harbour, opposite from Hvar’s famous landmark – The Franciscan monastery. The hotel annex has 37 rooms, all of which feature sea views of Paklinski islands archipelago. All rooms have open air loggias, external phone lines and simple furnishing.
The centre of the town is only a 2-minutes walk by the sea, where you can find all necessities for a perfect Hvar vacation: taxi boats to Paklinski islands beaches, sights, restaurants, bars and shops. If you are looking for an affordable place, perfectly located at the beach and 5-10 minutes away from all Hvar's premiere bars and restaurants, Dalmacija annex is just the right choice.

Find out more information on our web site www.suncanihvar.com
Book your perfect Hvar vacation now!
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