Sućuraj is a picturesque small town on the east cape of the island Hvar in Croatia. The population of 400 people exists by tourism and fishing. Thanks to the very mild climate and beautiful countryside, many tourists come to Sucuraj. The town is the official centre of the east part of the island.
The island Hvar is famous for pleasant Mediterranean climate and the biggest number of sun-hours. Sucuraj is one of the sunniest and hottest places on the island with an isolation of more than 2700 hours o year.
Around the centre of the town there are two beaches, on the south side is a sand-bedded Cesminica, on the north side pebble Bilina. Near Sucuraj there are many beautiful and pictureful bays.
In the town tourists can stay in private apartments, pensions, houses, rooms, hotel or car-camp.
Sucuraj is situated on the east cape of the island Hvar (Central Dalmatia – Croatia), 3 NM (5 km) from the Dalmatian coast and 77 km from the town of Hvar.
The easiest way to come to Sucuraj is by ferryboat from Drvenik on the Makarska Riviera. The Ferryboat sails 25 minutes between Drvenik and Sucuraj. In the wintertime there are 3-4 departures a day, and in summer time 10-15 times. When the people get out of the Ferryboat they are already in Sucuraj. The Ferry-doc is near the centre of the town. Drvenik is situated on the Adriatic touristy road 96 km southeast from Split and 128 km northwest from Dubrovnik.
History of Sucuraj
Sucuraj exists more than 2300 years and through its history was many times totally destroyed and rebuilt. The first known inhabitants of Sucuraj were the Illyrians; their queen Teuta had a place here in 3rd century BC. In the 7th and 8th century the Croats who lived here till today colonized Sucuraj. Through its history Sucuraj was under many masters and different countries: Illyrians, Romans, Croats, Venice, French, Austrians, and Italians… Only in the 20th century Sucuraj was a part of 6 different countries.
The oldest monumental building in Sucuraj is the old Augustan (today Franciscan) monastery. When was it exactly built is unknown, but it was first rebuilt in 1309 and lastly in 1994. Sucuraj got its name from the church St. George that is mentioned in the Statue of Hvar from 1331. That church was destroyed at the end of the 19th century, and a new one was built. Most of the inhabitants of Sucuraj come from the coast in the 15th century, fledging from the Turks. From that time till today preserved church of St. Anthony built in 1663. Partially preserved is the old Venetian fortress (fortica) built in 1613.
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