Municipality of Nerežišća: Landscapes, Trails and Cultural Heritage

In the Municipality of Nerežišća, protected landscapes meet old churches, stone buildings and living traditions. Nerežišća lies at the crossroads of Brač’s main roads and on the slopes of the island’s largest plain. The municipality offers a range of starting points for planning your trip, from hiking on Vidova Gora to exploring frescoes, historic wells and prehistoric traces.

Landscapes and Trails on Brač

Vidova Gora is a protected landscape, and most of the mountain lies within the Municipality of Nerežišća. Hiking and mountain trekking are possible on the mountain. One specific starting point for a tour is the “Vidova gora” educational trail: it begins at the second kilometre of the Nerežišća–Bol road and is intended for pedestrians and cyclists. Check the route and conditions before setting out.

The Blaca Valley is also protected as a significant landscape. The Blaca Hermitage can be reached by a wide road from Blaca Bay or via a hiking trail from the island’s interior. The trail passes through Nerežišća, the Žurmo pond and the hamlet of Dragovode. Conditions on the hiking trail may vary; check them before setting out. The hermitage has preserved its furnishings, which are now displayed in the museum collection.

Churches, Wells and Traditions

In Nerežišća, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is surrounded by a symmetrical arrangement of richly decorated stone manor houses. The Chapel of St. Peter preserves a relief by the Brač sculptor Lazaneo. Traditional water supply also shapes the town: important systems are based on collecting rainwater.

In Donji Humac stands the parish church of St. Fabian and Sebastian. Its 13th-century fresco is considered one of the oldest in southern Croatia and continues to draw many worshippers on pilgrimage. Another tradition is the ball game balun o ruke, which is preserved in Nerežišća as one of the few surviving traditions of its kind.

The old centre of Dračevica is laid out in Mediterranean style around a central square. The village is known for its many Bucala wells. Its history also includes what was once the largest windmill on Brač: it ground grain for the entire island. The wells and the windmill illustrate two different aspects of local water supply and work.

Traces of Earlier Times

Near Donji Humac lies Kopačina Cave, a prehistoric site with the oldest known traces of prehistoric people on Brač. Finds include animal bones and stone artefacts. The cave is 500 metres west of the Gnjilac quarry and northwest of Donji Humac. From a plateau on its southern side, the view extends across the Donji Humac valley to Bobovišća and over part of Brač’s west coast. Check access conditions before visiting.

Above Murvica, the Dragon’s Cave tells the story of a different era: in the 15th century, it served as a residence and temple for Glagolitic priests. The priests decorated it with unusual sculptures whose meaning remains unclear.

Cycling Tour and Festival Tradition

Those wishing to explore the surrounding area by bike can take the 22-kilometre “Biking Vidova Gora–Dol” tour, which passes through Nerežišća. Route and service details may change; check them before making specific tour plans. The “Frane Senjković” Memorial is associated with a festival in honour of St. Margaret. If you want to plan your trip around a particular edition, check its date.

Discover more destinations: Municipality of Muć, Trogir, Municipality of Omiš, Municipality of Seget, Municipality of Prgomet, Municipality of Podgora, Municipality of Dugopolje.

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