Of all inhabited Croatian islands, Vis is the farthest from the coast. Its area is around 90 square km, with a population of 3700. Vis was inhabited at the time of the Neolithic period, and in the 4th century B.C., the tyrant of Syracuse, founded the colony Issa on the island. In year 925 Croatian Monarch Tomislav took over administration over the island. In recent history, the island was a navy base, and forbidden destination for foreign tourist.
Today, Vis is an open, friendly and attractive destination. Since the island was isolated in recent history, today it can provide an unspoiled beauty which remained intact, because it was not a massive tourist destination. The natural vegetation of the island is lush- expect pine trees, carob trees and citrus orchards as well as exotic species such as palm trees, and a particularly rare silver palm tree. Main industries today on the island are agriculture, especially vineyards, fishing and tourism.
There are two main towns on the island, the town of Vis (most islands share the same name of the sland and the main town) and Komiza. Both are located on the seacoast, and there are some smaller settlements on the islands interior – Podselje, Podspilje and Podstrazje.
The town of Vis is at the southern part of a wide bay on the island of Vis and was created by merging two smaller settlements: Luka in the western and Kut in the eastern part of the bay. Here you’ll see some typical 16th and 17th-century buildings such as the Gariboldi Palace with an inscription dating from 1522. There are also several 16th and 17th-century churches. At the end of the western part of the bay is “Gradina” hill which contains remnants of the Greek colony of Issa.
Remnants of the walls that once surrounded the colony can still be seen. On the east and west sides of the slope are ancient necropolises and the remains of a Roman theatre are nearby.
The town of Komiza is a quiet, traditional village, on an opposite side of the island of of Vis from the town of Vis. As an old fishing port, Komiza dates at least from the 12th century and it was here that the first fish processing factory in Dalmatia was built in 1830. In the second half of the 13th century, the Benedictines from the neighboring islet of Bisevo moved to their new monastery east of Komiza and the village grew around it. Today’s monastery and the church date from the 17th century.
The island of Bisevo
Nearby Bisevo island is an excellent excursion point to visit its Blue Cave – famous for its blue light effects that delight visitors.
