Jelsa

The caves around the former marshland on which Jelsa lies today were already settled in the Neolithic. Later the Greeks erected the watchtower Tor, which can still be visited today. The place that 1,600 people call home today grew to a considerable size during the Turkish attacks, since mainland inhabitants sought protection here. At some point so many people were living here that the unbuildable ground was drained and new residential quarters were erected - present-day Jelsa. Thanks to the shipbuilding industry and the restaurants, bars and shops that arose alongside it, Jelsa is, together with Hvar and Ploče, the only place that has been able to expand beyond its village character. Today tourists flock to the town surrounded by herb meadows, which besides the usual accommodation can also offer an inexpensive campsite.