Brac island

Islands brac croatia holidays, brac croatia things to do, Brac Island

Brač, the third largest island in the Adriatic, boasts ancient Venetian villages and the most famous beach in Croatia. But it is above all a paradise for an outdoor holiday, from traditional sports disciplines to more bizarre water sports.

Everywhere on all the brochures of Croatia, the aerial photo of the Zlatni Rat, the Golden Horn, is the most common business card of Brac, the ancient Brazza: a spectacular cone of golden sand and pebbles whose banks, rolling in the sea become almost fluorescent. When you see it live, you find that the photos are not telling the whole truth. Not only because the Zlatni Rat changes shape depending on the currents and winds, there is the gold of the beach, the green of the pine forest and the blue of the sea, but also, here it is almost inevitable to meet other colors: those of many windsurfing that ride through the waves and challenge the Maestral.

Windsurfing, free climbing, kayaking, mountain biking

Sounds like a detail, but it is not. Because the fascination of Brac, the largest island of the Dalmatian coast, with its nearly 400 square kilometers, arises not only from the natural beauty, but also by the vocation to sport holidays. Every summer, thousands of athletes come here to participate (or just to attend) in free climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, dry tooling, running on paths and stand up paddle surfing. At Sutivan is held yearly the Vanka Regule, the festival of extreme sports, which exploits the extraordinary variety of natural environments on the island and it transforms it in an open-air gym. The event is accompanied by an interesting sports and adventure themed film festival.

The visit to the island begins from the port of Bol, a lively town where ancient stone houses alternate with anonymous condominiums. From here, a walk of two miles along a paved street made of local marble (the same with which was built the Reichstag in Berlin and the White House in Washington), shaded by pine trees and subtropical plants and dotted with villas and large hotels, you will reach the Zlatni Rat beach.

golden-horn-bol
Which is spectacular, but in high season can be too crowded for both windsurfers and swimmers. To enjoy the sea better to choose one of the many nearby beaches or rocky coves. Where can happen, among other things, to see kids engaged in equilibristic walks on bungee cords stretched between the pines, in tribute to one of the hottest trends on the island: slacklining.

[one_third][alert-success]For windsurfing, instead, near the Golden Horn is the beach of Potocine: the Maestral comes from the west, light in the morning and intense in early afternoon. An ideal location for kite surfing, parasailing and wakeboarding.[/alert-success][/one_third]

Continuing towards Milna you can find waters perfect for diving. For the enthusiasts the peaceful Spilja Lucica, cave Lucica is a must: five meters from the shore, and three feet underwater there is a bell like cave deep almost 40 meters, dotted with stalactites and inhabited by flocks of amberjacks long more than a meter and a half.

milna

Another diving center is also the main city of the island, Supetar, a village founded in the sixteenth century and risen to tourist glory at the end of 18th century with sea connections to Split. Today, with its chalets, the rows of modern hotels with relative charm and its pebbly beaches, it would be a passing zone and docking point for ferries rather than a true tourist destination. But its Fun Dive Club organizes excursions that have as destination shipwrecks and underwater grottos.

There are not only watersports in Brač. The lovers of climbing and free climbing usually go the village of Lozisca that, on a steep hill, it offers rock walls suitable for beginners. And then there are hiking and mountain bike from Bol, following a path that goes from the village church and continues through forests of black pine, and you reach in about two hours the karst mountain range with the highest peak Vidova Gora (778 m), which is also the highest peak of the Adriatic islands.

On its narrow paths you do hiking, running and mountain biking. The tourist office of Bol has maps with marked trails and gives information on where to practice the various sports. Vidova Gora from a path that winds through pine and holm blacks follows the ancient route of the goats and goes to Pustinja Blaca, a hermitage founded in 1588 by monks fled from the Turks.

Getting there
By ferry in the summer. Every day depart 12 to 14 Jadrolinija ferries from Split that arrive in 50 minutes in Supetar. Price: 28 kuna per person (€ 3.70) and 130 kuna per car (17.40 €). With Jadrolinija also daily catamaran service from Split to Bol (70 minutes, 40 kunas, 5.30 euro). The same line connects Bol and Jelsa, island of Hvar, but without car transport (25 minutes, 22 kuna, euro 2.90). Between June and September the Jadrolinija ferries also carry 4-5 trips per day between Makarska and Sumartin (one hour, from 30 kuna, 4 euro, and 130 kuna, € 17,40 per car).

Where to stay – Brac Croatia hotels

★ ★ ★ ★ Bretanide Sport & Wellness Resort. Rabadana bb, Bol.
On the hill, but with the Zlatni Rat beach on the doorstep, a large (287 rooms and suites) and luxurious property with tennis courts, swimming pool, wellness center and rich program of fitness. Large rooms,
some with sea view terrace. Double room with breakfast from 1,215 kunas (162 Euros).

★ ★ ★ ★ Waterman Supetrus Resort. Put Vele Luke 4, Supetar.
Located directly on the beach and surrounded by lush vegetation. It consists of a dozen buildings in which they are distributed between 440 rooms and suites are modern and stylish 5 pools and 3 restaurants. Double room with breakfast from 960 kuna (128 euro), suite from 1,378 kunas (184 Euros).

★ ★ ★ ★ Bluesun Hotel Borak. Bracka cesta 13. Bol.
Close to the beach Zlatni Rat, has 133 rooms, 48 apartments and two restaurants. Excellent facilities with sports (tennis courts, diving courses). Double room with breakfast from 772 kunas (96 Euros).
★ ★ ★ Villa Giardino. Novi put 2, Bol.
At 150 meters from the marina, it offers 10 elegant rooms with period furniture, beautiful garden at the back, where you can enjoy breakfast with homemade jams. Double room with breakfast from 722 kunas (96 Euros).

★ ★ Hotel Kastil. Frane Radica 1, Bol.
On the seafront, in a baroque palace that belonged to a local noble family, the hotel has 32 rooms, all with sea view. Of the hotel’s two restaurants, pizzeria Mickey Mouse, with wood-burning oven, offers good pizzas and Dalmatian cuisine. Double from 707 kunas (94 Euros).