Community Description

About Nerežišća
Nerežišća lies 382 meters above sea level, below the former Grace fortress, on the rocky slope of Grižica. In terms of population, it is one of the smallest municipalities on the island, with less than 1,000 inhabitants in Nerežišća and its associated settlements of Donji Humac and Dračevica. Territorially, it also includes the settlement of Murvica, not far from Bol.

Since Donji Humac and Dračevica also belong to the Nerežišće municipality, one cannot miss the bell tower of the parish church in Donji Humac with its final red Baroque bulb, the male and female hermit dwellings and complexes, including the famous priestly hermitage of Blaca and the mysterious Dragon Cave above Murvica, the cave on Vidova Gora, the Kopačina cave near Donji Humac - the oldest human habitation in Dalmatia, numerous caves, of which Vičja jama on the western slopes of Vidova Gora is worth mentioning, the dolomite ring of Kolač near Nerežišće, Duboki dolac, the largest valley on the island, the abandoned shepherd's dwellings of Obršje, Dragovoda, Podžeženik, Fantovi dolci, Planica and Smrka, the shooting range on Knježev ravina, the Roman sites of Bunje, Poganica Tršćenik, Žurno..., the remains of a Roman mausoleum near Donji Humac, the windmills on Glavica near Dračevica and... there is so much more, there really is. It is worth highlighting the protected areas of nature in the municipality of Nerežišća:

VIDOVA GORA with the highest peak Sutvid (778) - a protected landscape. The largest part of Vidova gora extends within the municipality of Nerežišća. It has been protected since 1973. It is a true paradise for hunters and hikers, collectors of snails, mushrooms, asparagus and medicinal herbs. It is an attractive viewpoint from which you can enjoy a view of all sides of the island of Brač and the indented coast of the island of Hvar. The mountain lodge "Vladimir Nazor" offers Brač specialties (roasted lamb, vitalac, Dalmatian prosciutto, Brač wine, cheese, etc.) as befits a Brač tavern.
The fresh high-altitude air and the unique Dalmatian black pine park forest, which covers a third of the area, are a first-class natural beauty. In addition to black pine forests, Aleppo pine also grows in lower and warmer areas. However, large areas are covered with macchia, most often dense and difficult to pass. Rocky areas with low bushes also prevail. Not far from the top of Vidova gora is Vičja jama, as well as a cave 46 meters long. The deepest cave explored so far is Jama kod Matešića stan, northeast of Vidova gora, 285 meters deep.

BLACA Valley – protected landscape. Protected since 1986.
Blaca is an abandoned monastery, and today the Brač Museum Blaca Hermitage, one of the most beautiful excursion destinations on the island. The former Blaca monastery is located below the high steep cliff of Ljubitovica. In 1551, the prince of Brač donated the Blaca valley to the Glagolitic monks of Poljica, who fled the coast in 1540 before the Turks. The priests converted the Ljubitovica cave there for housing, and in 1570 the prince allowed them to build a church and monastery. The church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was completed in 1588 and renovated in the Baroque era. It is a three-altar church with an organ by the master Ettore del Chiaro from 1884. In 1590, the Bishop of Hvar, Petar Cedulin, canonically recognized the status of this priestly community, whose members lived according to their own regulations, which the bishop confirmed. Over time, this community rose to a noticeable economic level, especially under the leadership of the priest Ivan Nemčić (1722-1800). Legally, Blaca belonged to the parish of Nereži, so their grave with an inscription and the year 1637 is located in the church of Nereži. An independent chaplaincy for the surrounding hamlets was founded in Blaca in 1855. Today, it legally belongs to the parish of Nereži again.

Over the centuries, the buildings and outbuildings that were erected completely closed the entrance to the cave. This extremely interesting complex of buildings has been well preserved to this day. The monastery houses an extremely valuable collection of monuments: a library, a small printing house and an observatory with telescopes (the director Nikola Miličević senior (1869-1923) printed three books in his own printing house in Blaca, and the last director, Dr. Nikola Miličević junior (1923-1963), was a world-renowned astronomer). The Hermitage also houses collections of weapons, numerous paintings in the rooms, and other valuable objects of use. Nearby, in the cliff, is the Slap spring, as well as a deep pit and a former beekeeping. Today, it is relatively easy to reach the Blaca Hermitage. You can reach the deserted hamlet of Dragovode by car, and from there you have to walk for about half an hour along the path that descends into the Blaca valley. This path continues through the valley all the way to the Blaca cove - Popova vale. The Hermitage is open every day except Monday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Borić on the roof of the church in Nerežišća - a natural monument. Protected since 1969, Nerežišća is a place with economic momentum. In addition to the traditional sheep farming, the people of Nerežišća have turned to the development of the stone industry from stone harvesting to stone processing, construction, trade and agricultural crops, and have also given the green light to tourism.