A hump of land rising out of the sea to the west of Hvar, Vis exerts a bewitching hold over independent tourists drawn by its serene unspoiled beauty and (despite the existence of a handful of hotels) the relative lack of a mass tourist industry.

History

The two main settlements, Vis Town and Komiža, are well-preserved fishing ports with bags of history. The island has always played a crucial strategic role in the Adriatic, witnessing sea battles between the British and French during the Napoleonic Wars, a similar clash between Austrian and Italian fleets in 1866, and famously serving as a military base for the Yugoslav partisans and their British and American allies in World War II. Vis then served as a key base for the Yugoslav armed forces, and was strictly off-limits to foreign tourists until 1989. Along with its stone-built ports and wild nature, Vis is famous for its dry white Vugava wine, and the rich selection of fresh seafood (including lobster) served in local restaurants.

Vis Town