Schedule

• Depart from Coworking at 1030

• 1100, arrive at Sveti Nikola

• Walk to summit (30 minutes)

• 1300, depart Sveti Nikola

• 1330, back at Fontana

Note: this is the easy version of the trail, which involves very little hiking. There is a more challenging route starting from the sea that offers some additional rewards. If folks are interested in the latter, we can do that instead.

Sveti Nikola, highest point on Hvar

Sveti Nikola is the highest peak on the island of Hvar, located at 626 m above sea level named for the chapel which is located there. To the north of the peak is the farming village of Svirče. To the south is the wine harvesting and trading outpost of Sveta Nedjelja.

It is no accident that this place was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the protector of sailors (as well as children and repentant thieves). The summit offers views over the Adriatic in all directions. On a clear day, one can see as far as Italy. It would have been a natural lookout for the many centuries of explorers, traders, pirates, soldiers, and refugees who have populated the island from time immemorial. The chapel has weathered many storms, damaged by lightning over the years but rebuilt each time by devoted hands. According to local legend, St. Nicholas himself once showed his displeasure when his statue was moved to protect it from damage, sending hail upon the village of Sveta Nedjelja until his statue was returned to its rightful place.

Sveti Nikola also offers a glimpse into a critical chapter from Hvar’s heritage - the 15th Century peasant revolt. Matija Ivanić, the famed leader of the Hvar Rebellion, is credited with the chapel’s construction. Ivanić led an uprising of bourgeoisie and working people against a self-titled nobility on the island, precipitating unrest against feudalism and Venetian colonial rule across all of Dalmatia. The conflict reflected influences of Renaissance humanism in Croatia, and presaged not only the political upheaval of the Englightenment but conflict between classes and against outside rule which echoed down through Croatia’s history into the present.

How to get there

There are multiple paths to Sveti Nikola. The two more moderate paths are from Dol and Svirće on the northern face of the island’s ridgeline. The steeper and more adventurous path is from the southern hamlet of Sveta Nedjelja. The itinerary outlined above is based on driving to a point not far from the peak, which is an easy walk to the summit with a bit of clambering.