Fortica Fortress

Fortica Fortress - Tvrđava Fortica, Hvar, Split-Dalmatia County, Republic of Croatia.

In the 12th century, the island of Hvar voluntarily became part of the Venetian Republic, and the Venetian fleet in the Adriatic Sea was based there. At the same time, the Venetians erected military fortifications on an 88-meter hill overlooking the bay and surrounded the city with walls. The fortress was built on the site of a 6th-century Byzantine fort during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Even earlier, there was an ancient Illyrian settlement here, dating back to 500 BC. Traces of these earlier structures can be found on the southern side.
Construction of the present fortress began in 1282. The city financed the project itself with revenues from the sale of salt. During the 14th century, Spanish engineers participated in the project, which is how the fort acquired its name, Spanjola (Spanish).
In 1571, the island was sacked by the Turks, and the defensive fortifications suffered severe damage. The fortress was rebuilt, but in 1579 it was destroyed again when lightning struck the fort, causing a fire and explosion in the gunpowder storehouse, causing extensive damage to the fortress and many buildings in the town. The townspeople rebuilt the fortress again, further strengthening the walls.
During Austrian rule in the 19th century, the fortress was renovated again, with barracks buildings added. Hvar subsequently lost its strategic importance, and the fort fell into disrepair. Before its recent major renovation, the fortress was in such poor condition that locals began to say that "fairies dance in a circle" there at night.
Currently, the fortress has been completely reconstructed, with numerous exterior details recreated, from tiled roofs, wrought-iron lanterns, stone mosaics, to observation decks and walkways.
The Spanish Fortress is the main landmark of Hvar and adorns the town's symbols—the coat of arms and flag. On the fortress's main tower is a five-meter-high stone bas-relief depicting a winged lion—the coat of arms of the Venetian Republic. A slightly smaller lion adorns one of the doors in the fortress wall.
Today, the building houses a museum housing a collection of amphorae and other artifacts from antiquity and the Middle Ages. A café and bar are also available for visitors.