A virtual walk through Starogradski polje in the Faros locality is a new feature for Hvar tourists

The Faros archaeological site is a layered site from the 4th century BC to the 5th-6th century AD. It is located on the eastern edge of today's old town center of Stari Grad on Hvar.

It includes the Remeta garden, and the early Christian twin churches of St. John and the remains of the church of St. Maria. Both churches were decorated with floor mosaics that are presented today in the interior of the church of St. Ivan. 

The interesting thing is that in the same place are the stratigraphically arranged phases of the ancient city, from the earliest period of Greek colonization, then Roman to late antiquity.

"Archaeological sites are otherwise interesting to visitors, but by using modern technologies we managed to make them even more attractive and bring them closer to all generations", they said from Public institutions Agency for the management of Starogradski polje.

The promotion of the project 'Virtual presentation of Starogradski polje' was held at the Faros archaeological site on July 27, 2023. The project was presented as part of the Public Institution of the Agency for the Management of Starogradski polje, and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and Media.

"We are extremely glad that we managed to finish this project for part of the 2023 season", according to the Public Institution. From now on, visitors have the opportunity at the Faros archaeological site in Old Town on the island of Hvar, at Vukovarska cesta 2, to discover through modern technology the rich historical heritage: islands, cisterns, amphorae and what the Faros site looked like in the past. 

With an interactive free-standing screen, visitors have the opportunity to discover the charms of the UNESCO-protected Old Town Field in one place. Through the screen, visitors will simply be able to see all the localities within Starogradsko polje with descriptions of those localities, photos, video and 360 recording. 

"We managed to show the entire UNESCO heritage of the island of Hvar, the Old Town Square, the dry wall construction, the Procession for the Cross, the Mediterranean diet, klapa singing, agave lace and all the sights in the area of ​​the City", they say from the Public Institution. 

Using VR glasses, visitors can walk through the reconstructed site and see how everything looked in the past, typical amphorae in this area, cisterns, ramparts, the ancient port, Faroese coins in 3D.

A kind of return to the past with the help of VR glasses will provide a unique experience, and visitors will be able to play a game with a bow and arrow and write their name in the virtual guest book. 

"In this unique, interesting way, we will attract the interest and attention of all generations. With this, we combine historical heritage and modern technology, with which the presentation and interpretation dialogues of the present are carried out.", say the Public Institution of the Agency for the Management of Starogradski polje.

The archaeological site of Faros is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 17:00 p.m. to 20:00 p.m. The Public Institution invites everyone who happens to be on the island of Hvar to experience the ancient city of Faros in this way. 

The public institution Starogradski Polje Management Agency is an institution whose founders are the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Management, the Municipality of Jelsa and the City of Stari Grad.

The goal of the Agency is the preservation, improvement and tourist evaluation of Starogradsko polje, which in 2008 came under the protection of UNESCO's cultural heritage.

Photo: Vilma Matulić / Public institution Starogradski polje Management Agency