With 3,500 inhabitants Supetar is by far the biggest settlement on the island of Brac. With its fabulous restaurants and surrounding beaches it is the launch pad to further exploration of the island and is linked to the mainland via an hourly ferry service that goes back and forth from Split.
There are some great historical sites to visit in and around Supetar; these include a beautiful mausoleum located next to the cemetery and the church of the Annunciation of Mary (Crkva Marijina Navjescenja). You can also use Supetar as a base to visit other destinations around Brac such as Hvar, Trogir and the island of Vis.
Supetar has been inhabited since the Neolithic period; the local parish church of St. Peter was built in 1733 on the site of the original basilica from the fifth century. In front of the church there is a pre Christian mosaic from the 6th century. We would highly recommend visiting the surrounding buildings; these include Leroj, the Bell Tower and the Church museum. On the road to Donji Humac you will find the small pre Romanesque church of St Luke, this church dates from the 11th to 12th century.
In the area around Supetar, mainly in the olive and vineyards you can find a lot of “Bunje”, small circular stone houses. These are used today for the storage of farm tools but it is thought that these were once small dwellings for the original inhabitants of Supetar. You can find similar types of construction all over the Mediterranean in places such as Sardegnam, Liguria, Catalonia and Kreta.
In 1827 Supetar became the administrative centre of Brac, it is considered to be one of the main and most popular tourist centres on the island today. Its popularity stems from its cultural monuments, its recreation programs and its many sporting activities.
The surrounding attractive bays and beaches are surrounded by lush forests of pine which is what makes Supetar such a popular summer vacation resort. The coast around Supetar between Splistska in the east and Mirca in the west is an ideal place to swim.
With a large variety of accommodation types, tasty local restaurants, fun entertainment and its many sports and recreational opportunities we think Supetar meets with the highest standards of tourism today.
Katarina Stanic lives on the Mediterranean island of Brac in Croatia. She advises tourists on the best places to go on the island and currently works with Kavanjin on their range of Property in Croatia in the beautiful harbor town of Sutivan.