It saved the Hvar people from the Turkish invasion, survived an explosion, and was completely restored in the 19th century.
Starting at the Hvar market and going north, passing through the main city gates or the Porta di datallo, and climbing stairs through the old part of the town, one can see palaces built in the 15th and 16th centuries. From there, the path leads through scented Mediterranean gardens all the way until the Fortica Hvar fortress also called Španjola fortress.
The construction of the fortress began after 1278 when Hvar was under Venetian rule. The fortress with its city walls forms a unique defense system. In 1551, a new fort was built on the site of the old one, and in 1571, during the Turkish invasion, it provided protection for the people who took refuge there. In 1579, the fort was significantly damaged in the explosion of a gunpowder warehouse caused by a lightning strike. It was repaired only in the early 17th century during the reign of Prince Pietro Semitecolo by the construction of Baroque defense bastions.
In ancient history, this magnificent military structure consisted of towers, loopholes, cannons, a prison, corridors, a chapel, and as a fortress it saved the people of Hvar from the Turkish attack. The fort today houses a collection of amphoras and other exhibits from antiquity and the Middle Ages.
In addition to delighting you with its architecture, you will experience an unforgettable panoramic view of the town of Hvar, its surroundings, and the Pakleni islands.
Author: visithvar.hr
