Schedule

• Depart from Coworking at 1030

• 1045, arrive at Svirće

• Walk to summit (3 hours)

• BYO picnic at summit (1 hour)

• Walk to pick-up spot (45 minutes)

• 1530, shuttle to Fontana

• 1615, back at Fontana

Attending: Lou, Michelle, Stephanie

Sveti Nikola, highest point on Hvar

Sveti Nikola is the highest peak on the island of Hvar, located at 626 m above sea level and 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, been damaged by lightning over the years, and 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 points to the influence of Renaissance humanism in Croatia, and presaged not only the political upheaval of the Englightenment, but also a pattern of conflict between classes and against outside rule which echo down through Croatia’s history into the present.

Our route

There are multiple paths to Sveti Nikola. The two more moderate, uphill 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. This itinerary chooses the first option, coming from Svirće, since we’ve already hiked part of the Dol route with the Purkin Kuk hike.

This is essentially a one-way hike. Vehicles cannot come all the way to the summit, so after a break for lunch, we will walk down to the pick-up location. Time allocations above are generous to allow for an easy pace and frequent stops.

What to bring

• Plenty of water. There is nowhere to refill after we start.

• Anything you need for outdoor bathroom breaks.

• Lunch or energy-dense snacks.

• Sturdy shoes. High socks or pants are a good idea, because we will be walking through some areas with high grass or brush.

• Anything that improves your hikes, such as polls, a sunhat, binoculars, etc. Carolyn will bring specimen jars and a lightweight pair of binoculars.