Beloved for its laid-back nature, dramatic scenery and traditional lifestyle, č is a patchwork of rugged karst uplands interspersed with fertile valleys of olive and mandarin groves that lead down to the crystalline sea. An exporter of white limestone for thousands of years, č has an international reputation but a very traditional charm. On this full-day tour, you’ll get to visit four distinct locations with a private guide who can provide an insight into the island’s past and present. Taking in historic towns, local museums, an olive press, stonemasons and a winery, you’ll gain a broad introduction to one of Croatia’s most atmospheric islands.
You’re picked up from your hotel in Trogir, Split or č on the morning of your tour and taken to Supetar, the island’s largest town. From here, you’ll set out on foot to take in the Baroque architecture of Saint Peter’s and Saint Nicholas’s churches, and the waterfront dotted with fishing boats and yachts.
Next, you travel inland to visit the town of Škrip’s olive oil museum. Olive oil has been produced here by the Cukrov family since 1864, when their grandfather Josip Krstulović opened their original press. You’ll learn about the origins of the industry in č as you tour the original factory. You can also enjoy a tasting of one of the island’s most acclaimed products, accompanied by fresh breads, cheeses, olives and tapenades.
From there, you continue to the Museum of č, which is set in the restored 16th-century Radojkovića Tower. The museum has a small but interesting collection of photographs and documents detailing the history of the area, as well as furniture, weapons and machinery from various time periods and important industries of the island.
From Škrip, you head east along the coast to the fishing town of Pučišća for a visit to the stonemason school. č’s distinctive white limestone has been used in the construction of everything from Diocletian’s Palace in Split to the Hungarian Parliament Building. The school aims to preserve the island’s reputation for craftsmanship and masonry by mentoring future artisans.
Your last stop is the southern town of Bol, home to Golden Horn Beach, a triangular spit of smooth white pebbles that extends out into the turquoise sea and is widely considered to be Croatia’s best beach. Bol is also home to the Stina Winery, whose blank label has won numerous international awards.
After a guided tour of its state-of-the-art production line, which is set in the original brick-and-stone warehouse, you have the chance to enjoy several wines made from indigenous varietals. From here, you travel back to Supetar and are escorted to your hotel.