Humac: Stone Houses and Cultural Heritage

Humac combines a protected rural heritage ensemble with distinctive stone architecture, a wine-growing collection and cycling routes. Its cultural character can be seen in its houses, their former uses and historic buildings. For choosing a destination based on cultural interests, Humac offers several specific points of interest; cycling and views of the landscape are also among the local attractions.

Stone Houses and History

In Croatia, Humac is protected as a rural heritage ensemble. The settlement’s present-day form dates from the 17th century, while the settlement itself was founded as early as the 13th century. Its founding therefore predates the form that defines Humac today by several centuries.

Humac consists of 140 small houses, built almost exclusively of stone. Rainwater gutters, wine presses and bread ovens have been preserved in the communal courtyards of the historic houses. The courtyards add details of everyday life in the past to the impression made by the stone houses. For centuries, the houses served as seasonal residences for landowners from Vrisnik, who worked their fields. This use connects the architecture with the village’s agricultural history.

Church and Wine-Growing Collection

The restored parish church of St John and St Paul was built at the beginning of the 20th century and is surrounded by cypress trees. It adds a church building from a later period to the village’s older character. Humac is also home to the wine-growing collection of the Jelsa District Museum, which visitors can visit. The church and the collection represent different cultural themes: church architecture and wine-growing.

Two Cycling Routes with Different Routes

The NA VRH cycling route passes through Humac and is 23.9 kilometres long. It connects Jelsa, Pitve, Martinica and Humac. The HUMAC route is a 32-kilometre circular route that starts and ends in Humac. When choosing between the two routes, consider their length and route: NA VRH passes through several named places, while HUMAC returns to its starting point as a loop.

The HUMAC route combines paved and gravel roads. If you choose either route for your plans, check the route and road conditions before setting off. This makes it possible to compare the two options by their routes while keeping their different lengths in mind.

Landscape, Night Sky and Cave

A telescope on a small hill outside Humac offers magnified views of Hvar’s seascapes and landscapes, Brač and the mainland. The night sky is another local feature: Humac has no street lighting, which supports stargazing. In 2020, the village was selected as a site for a meteor camera.

The Grapčeva Cave, with its stalactites and stalagmites, is near Humac. It has been protected as a geomorphological natural monument since 1964. Regular guided tours are offered during the summer months; check dates and arrangements before visiting. This combines a seasonal guided tour offering with a permanently protected natural feature.

Getting Around Hvar

Humac is near state road 116. It crosses central Hvar between Sućuraj and Hvar, passing through Jelsa and Stari Grad. This road provides a reference point for getting around the island and situates Humac along the connection between the places mentioned.

Discover more destinations: Zastrazisce, Ivan Dolac, Vrisnik, Vrboska, Zavala, Jelsa, Pitve, Gdinj.

For the wider travel overview: Općina Jelsa.