Jelsa, Croatia

Jelsa [ jɛ lsa ː ] is a harbor village on the island of Hvar in Croatia.

Location

The town of Jelsa is located on the northern side of the Dalmatian island of Hvar. It is enclosed by the two largest peaks of the island, Nikola and Hum. Depending on the weather you can see the neighboring island of Brac and the mainland to see. A catamaran Jadrolinija commutes daily between Jelsa and the port city of Split. To neighboring islands can easily rent one of the many boats. Furthermore, there is a bus service to the neighboring villages.

History

The area in which the town of Jelsa is located today, was already inhabited during the Stone Age. The people lived in caves in the south east of the present town. With the Greeks the first buildings came into this region. Later, seven, in the local dialect " Kastela " called (from Latin castellum, castle ) fortified castles, built, which served to warn against the attacks of the Turks and thus to protect the wealth of the settlement. Only in the course of the 14th century Jelsa was first mentioned as a town proper. At that time she became one of the main shipbuilding centers of the time.

Economy

Tourism is the main source of income of the town of Jelsa. This is available in Jelsa since ancient times, as evidenced by some ruins of the country villas (Latin villae rusticae ( Pl )), which is used as holiday homes. In 1911 the first hotel was opened. In the late 1960s began the construction of larger tourist facilities. Other important industries are viticulture, olive growing and derived products such as the traditional olive oil, as the fishing and the traditional lavender oil.

Attractions

The municipality Jelsa offers some attractions that are worth to look at. There is, for example, the Perivoj ( Lustgarten ) from the time around 1870. Since Jelsa as Croatia is characterized overall Catholic, there are a large number of chapels and churches, especially the castle church to St. Mary. As the most beautiful place Jelsa is considered the place of the Blessed Ivan and the associated chapel. It is located in the old town of Jelsa. From the ancient city of Civitas Vetus Ielsae have remnants of defensive walls and a cemetery at the site of a former Augustinian convent (1605-1787), of which still bears witness to the monastery church, survived the times. In cooperation with historians and experts in a Roman wine cellar was rebuilt above the town.

Twinning

The twin town of Jelsa is St. Andrew in Austria. The contract was signed in 1997.

Sons and daughters of the town

Antun Dobronic, Croatian composer
Miro Modrinić, Croatian author

Gallery

Jelsa seen from the top of

The Port of Jelsa

The Lustgarten

Alley in Jelsa

Old watchtower, known locally as the "gateway "

The Port of Jelsa

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