Island Brac - General information

Island Brac belongs to the group the islands of Central Dalmatia and is the largest island of Dalmatia. The island is 40 km long, 13 km wide and the total area of 395 km2. About 13,000 inhabitants live permanently on the island, the most of them live in the municipal center and the ferry port Supetar (3,500). It is far from Split between about 13 km .The nearest islands are Hvar on the south and Solta on the west. The climate is typically Mediterranean with an average of 9 to 12 hours of sunshine in a day or 2700 hours per year. The average daily temperature is 24 ° C in summer and 8 ° C in winter. Total length of the indented coastline is 175 km, with numerous small bays and beaches and the most popular are the Lovrecina beach in the north and the Zlatni Rat in Bol on the south of the island.

Historic-Cultural Monuments of Brac gathered in the Heritage Museum of Brac in Skrip. The works of Brac artists and those who worked on the island are in the Art Gallery in Bol. Folklore of the population of the island, subject to the Mediterranean and continental influences due to constant migration of population, is preserved in many different forms of Brac dialect. Local folklore is also preserved in numerous stories and songs, dances and singing with the instrument lira. Today, frequent performances in almost all places of Brac, and even those smallest, especially during the summer season, contribute to the cultural life of Brac: art exhibitions, scientific symposiums, literary evenings of Brac poetry, concerts, statuary meetings and other. Bol is a town on the island Brac.It is the only major town on the south side of the island. There are catamaran connection with Split and Jelsa on the island Hvar. Supetar is the administrative center of the island of Brac and with 3062 inhabitants is the largest town on the island. Ferry port in Supetar is the main link of Brac with the mainland ( to Split on the coast). Milna is a village, which is located in a cove on the west coast of the island of Brac, which overlooks the channel Splitska Vrata. In the channel Splitska Vrata, in front of Milna bay there is the small island Mrduja. Milna is connected with Split by catamaran and the ferry port in Supetar is about 20 km far from Milna.
 

The legend of the name of Brac

The famous Trojan warrior Antenor hosted the prominent Greek heroes Odysseus and Menelaus during the Greek occupation of Troy. He wanted to negotiate with them to return kidnapped Helena to her people and to end the long term war. After the conquest and destruction of Troy, the Greeks did not forget his hospitality. They took him with them to live in Greek Ambracija. According to this legend, from there he sailed to the island which he called BRACHIA (Brac)- after the former residence in Greece (AM) BRACHIJI.
On the island of Brac he brought and left the shepherd Brach, the sailor Elaphe (who built the city Elaphusa near Bol) and the farmer and grower Silen. Silen brought olive and grape seedlings on the island. On a little branch there was a cocoon from which emerged cicada. Antenor then sailed from the island Brac to Italian coast and founded Venice on the lagoons.

Gastronomy of the island Brac

It is said that on the island of Brac stone and man have lived and fought since the primordial. People defied to difficult way of life with persistence and strength which they drew from the stone. Poor soil dealt in traditional and ecological way, opened its hearts and gave fruits to its farmers .Using the products , widely famous healthy food is made, seasoned with olive oil. In these gifts of nature longevity of Brac people lies. At your arrival on Brac, hospitable hosts will offer you dried figs, carobs and almonds. In addition to the traditional Dalmatian dishes such as fish, seafood with olive oil, pasta and fresh, naturally grown fruits and vegetables, Brac cuisine offers its uniqueness. Brac lambs and kids ,which were fed only on mother`s milk have been famous since ancient times. Is particularly appreciated "Vitalac"- lamb offal is (piece by piece is pushed on a thin skewer, wrapp in a tissue of lambs). Threaded Vitalac is eaten while waiting for a whole lamb is roasted. "Butalac" - stuffed leg of lamb (rubbed with aromatic herbs, sealed at the end of the wine) is also specialities and lamb "tingulli" (stewed lamb) and many other specialties made from famous Brac lamb.

Brac cheese is famous, especially "procip". It is made from a young cheese not older than 24 hours. It is cut into slices and baked in caramelised sugar. People of the island still drink "smutica" - tasty beverage made from 4 / 5 fresh goat milk and 1 / 5 of red wine which was also recommended by Hippocrates .This beverage and many other Brac specialties have remained preserved since ancient times. It should be mentioned the famous wine "plavac", which is drunk since primordial on Brac.