Croatia

From Korcula we caught the ferry for a quick stop on the Island of Hvar. An ice cream , a gin, a walk and back on the ferry to the gorgeous island of Vis. Mamma Mia Two was partially filmed here. Vis with its old towns of cobbled stone alley ways, lime stone buildings and wooden shutters, smooth pebbled beaches and the deep deep turquoise blue of the sea. This place is magical. We spent the days here walking, touring the old military tunnels, visiting the quaint fishing village of Komiza and maybe a few Shenanigans along the way. Lots of cats on Vis and it’s been a huge problem but they have a great program in place educating owners and funding their management. Vis has a rich history. Inhabited in the Neolithic period, it became the first Greek colony on the Adriatic Sea in the 4th century BC. The ancient town of Issa was located in the same place and in the harbour, remains can be found only a few metres below. Issa became Illyrian, then fell under Roman rule. In the early centuries AD Vis was developing as an important commercial port on the Adriatic Sea. Many cargo ships, transporting olives, wine and fish in the ancient amphorae, passed close to the island. Not each pass was successful –and remains are also found in the sea around Vis. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Dalmatian islands became the property of Byzantium for the next 5 centuries and in those days the Slavs came to the island for the first time. For a tiny island it’s had a tumultuous history, however, and by the end of 10th century AD Venetians totally destroyed the towns of Vis and Komiža and abducted almost all inhabitants. Those who left, moved to the interior and settled new villages of Dol and Velo Selo. Vis came under the rule of the Republic of Venice. The Venetian influence is still recognisable in the architecture on the island. The Middle Ages meant a lot of wars and battles, but the worst happened after the 18th century. Between 1797 and 1806 Vis was, by turns, Austrian, French and British. Then there were numerous battles between the French and British ( there’s even an English cemetery) and in 1815 Vis fell under Austrian rule . The next change was brought about by World War II, after which Vis became a part of a newly created Yugoslavia. After the war, the army used the island as its main naval base. It’s only after the recent Balkans war ended 1995,that Vis finally became a place of tranquility ( for now anyway) enjoyed by tourists and inhabited by local farmers and fishermen.Read more