World Heritage Identification Number: 1240
World Heritage since: 2008
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Agriculture Landscapes, Parks & Gardens
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇭🇷 Croatia
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
Map
Stari Grad Plain: A Remarkable Cultural Landscape in Croatia
The Stari Grad Plain, located on the Adriatic island of Hvar, Croatia, is a unique cultural landscape that has remained largely unchanged for over two millennia. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, this fertile plain is a testament to the enduring legacy of the ancient Greek civilization.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Stari Grad Plain on the Adriatic island of Hvar is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centring on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. The site is also a natural reserve. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims, or small stone shelters, and bears testimony to the ancient geometrical system of land division used by the ancient Greeks, the chora which has remained virtually intact over 24 centuries.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ii): The land parcel system, dating from the 4th century BC, of Stari Grad Plain bears witness to the dissemination of the Greek geometrical model for the dividing up of agricultural land in the Mediterranean world.
Criterion (iii): The agricultural plain of Stari Grad has remained in continuous use, with the same initial crops being produced, for 2400 years. This bears witness to its permanency and sustainability down the centuries.
Criterion (v): The agricultural plain of Stari Grad and its environment are an example of very ancient traditional human settlement, which is today under threat from modern economic development, particularly from rural depopulation and the abandonment of traditional farming practices.
Encyclopedia Record: Stari Grad Plain
The Stari Grad Plain, near the town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, Croatia, is an agricultural landscape that was set up by the ancient Greek colonists in the 4th century BC, and remains in use. The plain is the largest agricultural area on any of the Adriatic islands, and is remarkably fertile due to Ice Age loess deposition.Additional Site Details
Area: 1,376.53 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: 43.1816666667 , 16.6386111111
Image
© Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Stari Grad Plain from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
-
Sara Popović, Starogradsko polje: studija arheološkog krajolika, Zagreb: Hrvatska sveučilišna naklada, Arheološki muzej u Zagrebu i Muzej Staroga Grada, 2020.; 255 str. | Silvia Bekavac i Željko Miletić, Kulturni krajolik Biokova: reciklaže u kršu, Zadar: Sveučilište u Zadru i JU Park prirode Biokovo, 2024.; 210 str.
Two recent studies offer significant insights into the cultural landscapes of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Hvar Island, Croatia. Sara Popović's 2020 study reveals that the Stari Grad Plain, a unique karstic depression, has been shaped by over 2,500 years of continuous human activity, demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptation in agricultural practices. The research employs a multi-disciplinary approach, combining archaeological surveys with historical analysis to uncover the layered history of this landscape. Meanwhile, Silvia Bekavac and Željko Miletić's 2024 study on Biokovo's cultural landscape highlights innovative recycling practices within the karst environment, showcasing how traditional techniques have evolved to sustainably manage resources in a fragile ecosystem. Both studies underscore the importance of integrating historical and ecological perspectives to understand and preserve these unique landscapes.
Kale, J. (2026). Sara Popović, Starogradsko polje: studija arheološkog krajolika, Zagreb: Hrvatska sveučilišna naklada, Arheološki muzej u Zagrebu i Muzej Staroga Grada, 2020.; 255 str. | Silvia Bekavac i Željko Miletić, Kulturni krajolik Biokova: reciklaže u kršu, Zadar: Sveučilište u Zadru i JU Park prirode Biokovo, 2024.; 210 str. Archaeologia Adriatica, 19, 333–338. https://doi.org/10.15291/archeo.5011
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Chapter 9. Feral fields of Northern Dalmatia (Croatia)
Agricultural landscapes in northern Dalmatia, Croatia, reveal dynamic shifts in land use over millennia despite the persistence of static field structures. Research combining archaeobotanical data with historical records shows a transition from prehistoric cereal agriculture integrated with wild forest resources to commercial-scale arboriculture during the Classical period. This legacy persists today in semi-wild olive groves and traditional farming practices, illustrating how long-term land-use patterns shape Mediterranean agroecological systems.
Countryman, J., Zaro, G., Blaće, A., & Čelhar, M. (2024). Chapter 9. Feral fields of Northern Dalmatia (Croatia). Archaeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 35(1), 94–105. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/apaa.12190
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Korijeni toposa kulturnog krajolika Hvara u Pribojevićevom djelu O podrijetlu i zgodama Slavena i u djelima kasnijih putopisaca
A comparative analysis of historical travelogues reveals that descriptions of Hvar's landscape, particularly by 16th-century writer Vinko Pribojević and later authors, anticipate modern concepts of cultural landscapes. The study identifies shared elements in these accounts with today’s understanding of the Stari Grad Plainhighlighting how past perceptions align with current criteria for cultural significance. Key themes include natural, socio-cultural, and perceptual factors shaping Hvar’s terrain, as exemplified by works from Paladio Fusco to Albert Fortis.
Bojić, M. (2024). Korijeni toposa kulturnog krajolika Hvara u Pribojevićevom djelu O podrijetlu i zgodama Slavena i u djelima kasnijih putopisaca. Zbornik Radova Sedmoga Hrvatskoga Slavističkoga Kongresa, Šibenik 25. Do 28. Rujna 2019., 571–583. https://doi.org/10.17234/9789533791555.35
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Gradina Gračišće iznad Starogradskog polja na otoku Hvaru
Archaeological investigations at the Gračišće hillfort on Hvar Island have revealed new insights into the Bronze Age occupation of the Stari Grad Plain. The study, part of the AdriaCos research project, documented prehistoric fortifications and recovered fragments of pottery, stone artifacts, and animal bones from two excavation probes. These rare finds provide valuable evidence for a previously understudied period on Hvar—mid to late Bronze Age—with radiocarbon dating pinpointing this phase with unprecedented precision. The collaboration between the Institute for Archaeology, Stari Grad Museum, and the Agencija za upravljanje Starogradskim poljem highlights the significance of integrated research in uncovering the island's ancient past.
Ugarković, M., Čelhar, M., Devlahović, A., Korić, M., Barbir, A., & Popović, S. (2023). The Gračišće hillfort above the Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar. Vjesnik Arheološkog Muzeja U Zagrebu, 56(1), 25–53. https://doi.org/10.52064/vamz.56.1.2
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Topografija i stratigrafija jugoistočnoga predgrađa antičkoga Fara
Recent archaeological excavations at the southeastern suburb of ancient Pharos, now part of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, have unveiled new insights into the topographical and stratigraphic evolution of an extramural space located at the edge of the Stari Grad Plain. The study, conducted as part of the HRZZ AdriaCos project in 2021, identified two distinct architectural phases—dating to the Greek and late antique periods—and a Greek grave, shedding light on shifts in land use over time. Mobile finds from the site also provide evidence for dietary habits and trade connections during these periods, contributing significantly to our understanding of how this peripheral area was utilized and integrated into broader socio-economic networks.
Ugarković, M., Konestra, A., Peter, P. D., Korić, M., Turkalj, K., & Popović, S. (2023). Topography and stratigraphy of the south-eastern suburb of ancient Pharo. Annales Instituti Archaeologici, 19(1), 92–123. https://doi.org/10.33254/aia.19.1.8
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Beginning of Pharos – the present archaeological evidence
Recent archaeological research on the Stari Grad Plain, Croatia, sheds new light on the early phases of settlement at Pharos, now known as Stari Grad. The study clarifies long-standing ambiguities surrounding the site's pre-rampart occupation by analyzing depositional processes and existing evidence. Contrasting interpretations from Jeličić Radonić and Katić (2015) with those of Popović and Devlahović (2018), this research provides a more precise understanding of how the settlement evolved before the construction of the solid block-built rampart. The findings are based on excavations conducted by multiple teams, including the Adriatic Islands Project, the Conservational Department in Split, and the Museum of Stari Grad, offering a comprehensive view of the site's early development.
Kirigin, B., & Barbarić, V. (2022). beginning of Pharos – the present archaeological evidence. Godišnjak Centra Za Balkanološka Ispitivanja, (48), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.5644/godisnjak.cbi.anubih-48.127
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Uspostava otočkog distribucijskog lanca kao preduvjet održivog poljoprivrednog razvoja Starogradskog polja
Research demonstrates that establishing an island distribution chain, or 'Agro Hub,' could significantly enhance the agricultural productivity and sustainability of Stari Grad Plain. The study, conducted on the island of Hvar, reveals that family farms, currently characterized by low productivity and lack of organizational structure, are interested in forming such a network. By analyzing existing production data and surveying local producers, the authors propose a theoretical model based on successful international examples. Implementation of this model could modernize a 2,400-year-old agricultural system, ensuring its long-term viability while preserving its cultural significance.
Tarbušković, V., Dulčić, Ž., Gelineo, S., & Vranković, M. (2021). Uspostava otočkog distribucijskog lanca kao preduvjet održivog poljoprivrednog razvoja Starogradskog polja. Socijalna Ekologija, 30(3), 455–481. https://doi.org/10.17234/socekol.30.3.3
View Publication Record | Read Publication
