The island of Brač

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Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea within Croatia, with an area of 396 square kilometres (153 sq mi), making it the largest island in Dalmatia, and the third largest in the Adriatic. It is separated from the mainland by the Brač Channel, which is 5 to 13 km (3 to 8 mi) wide. The island’s tallest peak, Vidova gora, or Mount St. Vid, stands at 778 m, making it the highest island point in the Adriatic.

Archaeological findings date the existence of human communities on the island back to the palaeolithic (in the Kopačina cave between Supetar and Donji Humac). Nevertheless, there are no traces of human habitation from the neolithic. In the Bronze Age and Iron Age, Illyrian tribes populated the inner parts of the island. In the 4th century BC Greek colonisation spread over many Adriatic islands and along the shore, but none of them on Brač, even though were trading with the traded Illyric tribes. In the year AD 9, the Romans finally conquered Dalmatia after long fights against the native tribes. From AD 1268 to 1357 the island recognized the supremacy of the Republic of Venice, and after that they bowed to the Kingdom of Hungary.

In the summer of 1390, together with the whole region, they accepted the rule of the Bosnian King Tvrtko Kotromanić, who died the next year, when Hungary claimed the island again. Venice ruled for more than four centuries, until 1797, when the Habsburg Monarchy annexed most of its territory in a deal with Napoleonic France. During the Napoleonic Wars, Brač was conquered by the French Empire for a short time in 1806. In 1807, Prince-Bishop Petar I Njegoš of Montenegro managed to seize Brač with the help of the Russian navy, however already at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 the island was returned to the Austrian Empire.

After the fall of Austria-Hungary 1918, Brač became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, or Yugoslavia since 1929. In 1939 an autonomous Croatian Banate was created that included the island. In 1941 Italian forces occupied the island. After the Italian capitulation in 1943, German troops occupied the island on January 12 and 13 of 1944, but in July they were defeated and the island was freed.

Brac quarries are the symbol of the island. from there stone is taken out since the time of Roman rule until today. The stone from Brac is known for its quality and whiteness, and it was used to built some of the most important buildings, including the Cathedral in Sibenik. The two stone-masonry schools and one art colony in the Lower Humac and Pucisca offer programs teaching and training techniques stonemason, under the guidance of qualified mentors.

The interior of the island today are engaged in cooperative cattle breeding and production of various products from sheep meat and milk. Brac is the most famous for specialty vitalac which consists of sheep intestines prepared on an open fire. Among the wines that are produced on the island, Bolski Plavac has a special place.

The most famous attraction on the island of Brač it the most photographed beach of Croatia, the Zlatni rat in Bol.Often referred to as the Golden Cape or Golden Horn, it is a spit of land located about 2 kilometres (1 mile) west from the harbour town of Bol on the southern coast of the Croatian island of Brač, in the region of Dalmatia. It extends into the Hvar Channel, a body of water in the Adriatic Sea between the islands of Brač and Hvar, which is home to strong currents. The landform itself is mostly composed of a white pebble beach, with a Mediterranean pine grove taking up the remainder.
The very tip of Zlatni rat keeps changing its shape constantly due to the influence of winds, waves and sea currents, making it appear different and repeatedly interesting. This location is a protected natural area and a favourite spot for surfers and kite-surfers from around the globe.

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