Monastery
"HERMITAGE BLACA"

HERMITAGE BLACA. The hermitage (monastery) was founded in the 16th century by the Glagolitic priests who come to Brač fleeing from Poljica before the Turks. Blaca can be reached from many directions, but always exclusively by foot. The path, trodden for centuries by many mules and horses, is still the only connection with civilization. Visitors may travel by car from Nerežišče, over the Vidova gora up to Dragovoda and from there they have to walk for half an hour to Blaca. The museum and monastery in Blaca could also be reached travelling by ship from Bol to the valley of Blaca from where there is another half an hour of walking. The hermitage's origin was in the stone partitioned cave which was the first refuge of the Poljica hermits. From then on, the diligent and pious hermits built a church and hermitage, residential buildings and farm buildings on the cliff face. They turned vast forests into rich vineyards and olive groves. It is a wonder how the inhabitants of Blaca were able to struggle with wild nature and poor soil and yet managed to survive in such conditions for four centuries. The Glagolitic hermits of Blaca gained large estates, merchant ships, a rich library and a printing shop through their diligence and self-sacrifice. The hermitage's preserved inventory, today a museum, also includes the valuable astronomical heritage of the last Blaca hermit, Father Nikola Miličević, who died in 1963. Blaca are really an exceptional monument of human work, with great historical, economic, artistic and scientific content. Hermitage Blaca is an outstanding natural and cultural phenomenon, a wonderful oasis of peace and memories of days gone by.

WORKING HOURS:

every day except Monday (June - october)

9:00 - 17:00 hours

every day except Monday (november - may)

9:00 - 15:00 hours

ENTRANCE FEE:

Adults: 40 kuna

Children up to 14 years: 10 kuna

Significant Landscape
"VALLEY BLACA"

VALLEY BLACA has been preserved in the category of protected landscapes since 1986. It encompasses the area of Dragovode, all the way to bay Blaca, about 3500 metres in length, with an average width of 700 metres; the surface amounting to approximately 211.77 hectares. The dominant natural characteristic of this entire area is its canyon-like character.

From the geomorphic aspect it is a valley formed by torrential waters that cut into the limestone. Today it is almost completely dry with sporadically picturesque canyon-like features and a depth of about 200 metres. The nature is dictated by stone.

The vegetation covertures include pinewoods, mixed compositions, hardwood forests, macchia and thinned shrubs, underwood and shrubbery and uncovered forest ground. Special rock vegetation has evolved on vertical rocks. The natural appearance of the landscape is refined and to a certain extent modified by 100-year old human activities relating to traditional agriculture. It consists of elements of the autochthonic community of holm oaks with large participation of Aleppo pines and macchia. Vineyards and olive groves are also represented, especially in the zone closer to the sea. Animal wildlife is poorly developed.

Within the protected area there is an exceptionally valuable cultural-historical property - the hermitic monastery Blaca. In 1551, in cave Ljubitovica two Glagolitic priests from Poljice, on their run from the Turks, found shelter that soon after developed into a monastery that can be reached from many directions, but always on foot only.

Agenda / Legend

Stena / Track

Domna Blaca / Valley Blaca

Sastav / "Hermitage Blaca"

Republika
Hrvatska

Ministarstvo
 kulturne
izobraženja

Republika
of Croatia
Ministry
of Culture

NIM
PANJE
MANAGEMENT

A

re.hr

ACA 2.5 km