Just a 5 minute walk from Villa Vista, Jelsa’s historic town centre boasts a diverse selection of shops, caffe bars and restaurants plus numerous cultural entertainment programs and special events. Stroll along the harbour and explore the winding stone streets to experience all that Jelsa has to offer.
Centuries old buildings, ruins, monuments and artefacts tell the fascinating story of Jelsa’s rich historical past. A leisurely stroll through Perivoj Public Gardens, past Municipal Hall, in to St. Ivan’s square and Jelsa’s town centre to the Ancient City of Jelsa (Civitas Vetus Ielsae), Augustinian Monastery and Town Cemetery at the far end of the bay will find you among numerous notable heritage sites. As you navigate through the narrow stone streets and impressive architecture, it is impossible to ignore the feeling that you are traveling back through time.
A number of 14th, 15th and 16th century churches contribute to Jelsa’s landscape, each add their own unique mark of significance to Jelsa’s historical timeline while their Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural details and displays of distinctive art works continue to impress visitors today. Be sure to explore the “Lapidary” in the space around St. Mary’s Church-Fortress where a number of stone monuments dating from ancient and mediaeval times are on display.
Housed in the late 19th century family home of Juraj Dobrović in the octagon-shaped St. Ivan’s Square, the Museum of the District of Jelsa showcases the middle-class family and social life in Jelsa during the early 20th century through an impressive collection of ethnographic and artistic objects, images and documents. Additional collections highlighting other unique subjects of Jelsa’s cultural heritage can be found in Vrboska (the Fishing Collection) and in Humac (the Winegrower Collection).
Detailed information about historical sites in Jelsa and surrounding areas can be found online at www.jelsa-heritage.com.
Three main events highlight Jelsa’s exciting annual cultural program; the UNESCO listed "Following the Cross" Procession during Holy Week, the Municipality Day celebration on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15), and the Wine Festival over the final weekend of August.
In addition to these annual events, you will find a fully packed summer schedule of cultural events for all ages and all interests. Enjoy traditional and contemporary music concerts, live theatre and dance performances, open air cinema, art and music workshops plus numerous street fairs and festivals celebrating local art, history, folklore, foods, wines and island products. There’s always something special happening in Jelsa!
Experience Dalmatian hospitality and our obvious passion for food and wines in the beautiful ambiance of seaside terraces, garden courtyards and authentic stone konobas where Jelsa’s bistros and restaurants offer an abundance of culinary delights.
With a focus on local, traditional island products and recipes, plates of pršut (traditional aged dry smoked ham), local cheeses and baskets of fresh baked bread are plentiful and menus are always sure to include dishes prepared with olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, lemons, olives, capers, walnuts, figs and fresh seasonal vegetables flavoured with Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, sage, basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, saffron and lavender.
Fresh seafood is abundant; from the sublime flavour of a perfectly grilled fish to the many squid, octopus, scampi and shellfish dishes served in a variety of delicious ways. Meat eaters will enjoy a wonderful range of lamb, veal, chicken and pork preparations and, of course, excellent steaks! For a taste that’s truly traditional, we recommend ordering ‘peka’; a method of slow roasting meats, seafood, potatoes and vegetables under a clay lid covered with fire coals. Because of the long preparation and cooking time, peka is usually ordered at least 24 hours in advance.
Jelsa’s highly celebrated wine culture is attributed to the number of passionate winemakers throughout the area and, surrounded by sprawling vineyards, there’s certainly no shortage of top quality and award winning wines on the island. For wine enthusiasts, we recommend indulging in a wine tasting or tour at one of many local wineries or visiting during the final weekend in August to celebrate the island of Hvar’s best of the best at Jelsa’s Wine Festival.
On land and on sea, Jelsa's abundance of sports and recreation activities make it a perfect playground for all ages, all levels of physical capacity, for fitness and for fun.
The crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea provide plenty of opportunities for water sports and recreation activities. Enjoy speed and small motor boating, sailing, sea-kayaking, wind-surfing, diving and, of course, swimming!
Cycling enthusiasts will be pleased to find a variety of bicycle routes and numerous hiking trails are available throughout the area. With many remaining at sea level and many others leading through forests and over hills, both beginners and experts have a great choice of paths to explore Hvar’s nature by bike or on foot.
Jelsa's Sports Hall provides space for basketball, volleyball, handball and football, while tennis courts, table tennis and mini-golf can be found near local hotels and campgrounds. Badminton, bocce, sand-volleyball, living table football and archery are available at Adventure Park Jelsa, where you can also enjoy harder adrenaline sports such as paintball, splatmaster, big boxing and cageball.
Adventure tours and excursions plus a variety of sports and recreation equipment rentals are available in Jelsa and we are always happy to help you find the right agency for your needs.