Supetar

Supetar is the biggest town on the Brac Island and its administrative center. The town is the main port of entry to Brac and is located on the northern side of Dalmatian Island in the Split-Dalmatia County in Croatia. Supetar is an attractive town with a long history. It is a popular holiday destination for Croatian families, with its famous pebbly beaches attracting tourists from all over Europe. The wonderful views you get across the water to Split and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking charming and will remain with you long after you leave Supetar.

The most famous attraction of Supetar is the Church of the Annunciation, which stands on the site of the early-Christian Basilica, St. Peter. From this site, a mosaic and several ancient tombs have been preserved and can be seen even today. The St. Peter Basilica had burned down and rebuilt in 1604, only to be destroyed in a fire again and rebuilt in 1733. It is also known as the Parish Church of St. Peter. Built in a Baroque architectural style, the church received a new aisle and bell tower during the reconstruction in 1773.

The church was further extended in 1887. You can find numerous paintings inside the church by local artist Feliks Tironi, along with a Baroque altarpiece by an unknown Venetian artist. These paintings and altarpiece go all the way back to the 18th century. Another famous relic on the premises of this church is a huge sundial, under which there is a sarcophagus with the date 1774 engraved on it. The church also has several Sunday school classrooms that are adorned with paintings from the Venetian era. The walls of the classrooms are decorates with various art works, including the work of Johannes Mazzonius from 1734.

While in Supetar, you should also visit the Ivan Rendic Gallery. This small gallery houses the works of the great sculptor Ivan Rendic, who was born in Supetar. Drawings, photos, sculptures, and documents that illuminate his life and work are treasured in the gallery today. The occasional special exhibits and concerts that are held here from time to time form a major part of the town's cultural life.

Supetar is also famous for the Brac stone/marble. In fact, the exquisite Brac stone/marble was used by the Romans to build their temples, cities, palaces, and amphitheaters all over Dalmatia. Brac stone/marble is still highly prized and used all over the world.

Coming to the beaches of Supetar, there are many famous sandy and pebbly beaches here that are a huge attraction for tourists. These beaches are also famous for the many water sports that are offered. The gravel and pebbly coves of Supetar beaches are long and narrow and provide a beautiful view of the mainland from across the water. Some of the most popular beaches of Supetar are:

• Meljine Beach
• Merdari Beach
• Petrovac na Moru Beach
• Prijevor Beach
• Pržno Beach
• Radovići Beach
• Sutomore Beach
• Sveti Stefan Beach

Of course, the ferry port itself is a huge tourist draw. You can see hundreds of boats and ferries parked here.

If you wish to take in the rich culture and heritage of Supetar, make time to attend the many concerts, theatrical performances, folklore evenings, and the numerous events that are frequently organized as part of the Supetar Cultural Summer.