Exploring Vis aboard a sailing yacht
The main reason me and my husband decided to visit the island of Vis is because our friends went there a couple of years ago and they came back completely thrilled. They couldn't stop talking about all the beautiful things they saw. When they showed us pictures, that was it, we knew we had to see that for ourselves. This summer, we've chosen Vis for our sailing vacation. We rented a sailing yacht in Split and the adventure began.
The Vis archipelago consists of some outstanding open-sea islands: Biševo, Sveti Andrija (St. Andrew), Jabuka, Brusnik, Palagruža... With its area of 90 square km and 76 nautical miles of indented shore it abounds in sandy and pebbly beaches, rocks, caves, hills and valleys, vineyards, small villages and two fascinating ancient towns – Vis and Komiža. The whole island of Vis is a former military zone, off limits from the 1950s to 1989, so it preserved its natural beauty from the booming tourist industry.
The first place we visited was the town of Vis, a picturesque little town at the north-eastern part of the Vis island in the bottom of a well protected Bay of Saint George. It has a long promenade with many great restaurants offering local specialities. The influence of farming and fishing traditions are evident. Some of the Croatia's finest vines like Plavac mali and Vugava are produced on the island. The town is rich in culture and history. There are renaissance and Baroque palaces and several churches from 16th and 17th century. There is plenty of things to do, especially for those who like sports activities. We rented bikes and went cycling around the island. Next we went to Komiža town which we liked even more. Komiža is famous for its fishing heritage and as a proof to that there is a Fisherman's museum we visited. It is located in the old Venetian tower on the promenade where traditional fishing boat falkuša, a symbol of Komiža, is displayed. When in Komiža, don't miss Fisherman's night, a festival on the docks with plenty of wine and different fish specialties and with music on every corner. We tried delicious Komiška pogača, a bread made of salty fish and tomato.
While sailing around Vis we visited a few of the nearby islands. The one we liked the most is Biševo island which lies 4 miles in front of Komiza port. It's famous for its Blue cave, wonder of nature and popular place to visit for many sailors. Pictures don't do justice to this place. It was a truly amazing experience. The best thing about sailing is the fact that you can see all those wonderful beaches, bays and coves you would have difficulty reaching on foot. On the southern coast you will discover a series of quiet and picturesque coves – Rukavac, Stiniva, Milna, Srebrena, Rudo, Travno... with exceptionally beautiful beaches. The most popular is Stiniva beach where swimming is very special and memorable.
We are very thankful to our friends for recommending Vis to us. We had a wonderful time sailing around this paradise island. It is great place for relaxation as well as recreation. We are delighted by the untouched nature of this island, its beauty and secluded places. I hope we'll get the chance to come back. If you want to discover other popular sailing destinations in Croatia, click here.