Hvar (Greek: Pharos; Latin: Pharia; Italian: Lesina) is an 68km long island in the Adriatic Sea, located off the Dalmatian coast, between the islands of Brač, Vis and Korčula, with a large fertile coastal plain, and fresh water springs. On the northern side of the island is located one of the oldest towns in Europe, Stari Grad (literally Old Town), originally named Pharos by the Greek settlers from the island of Paros, who arrived in 384 BC. The cultural landscape of Stari Grad Plain has remained practically intact, and the original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centring on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present.
Practically Stari Grad Plain represents a comprehensive system of land use and agricultural colonisation by the Greeks. Its land organisation system, based on geometrical parcels with dry stone wall boundaries (chora), is exemplary, and has been respected over later periods. This system was completed from the very first by a rainwater recovery system involving the use of tanks and gutters. The perimeter of the Greek town was circled by defensive walls, vestiges of which are visible next to the Church of St. John, and the remains of a city gate with towers can be seen nearby.
About the stamp
The stamp, depicting the castle Janković (Daruvar), is part of the series Croatian Castles, about which I wrote here.
References
Stari Grad Plain - UNESCO official website
Stari Grad Plain - Wikipedia
Sender: Dragan Buškulić (direct swap)
Sent from Stari Grad (Split-Dalmatia / Croatia), on 21.07.2015
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