We began the final day of our Adriatic adventure on the Croatian island of Hvar, exploring the city of the same name with a morning walking tour. Beginning in the 15th century, the island’s Venetian noble families lived in this city, which boasts an arsenal built for Venetian galleys. The winged lion of St. Mark, a hallmark of Venetian rule, may be seen throughout the city’s well-preserved Renaissance architecture. Today, Hvar is famous for the lavender that is grown there, and the aroma of the island’s signature herb lingers along the waterfront, where local vendors sell lavender in sachets or essential oils. Another product of Hvar is the delicate lace painstakingly crafted from fine strands of agave fibers; this unique item is produced by the nuns of the Benedictine convent of Hvar, originally established in 1664.
After exploring Hvar in the morning, we returned to the ship for lunch and an afternoon of sailing. Setting all sails but the lowest courses in the light Adriatic breezes, we achieved a somewhat leisurely pace on this final day aboard. As the sun set this evening, we enjoyed cocktails on the lido deck, followed by a splendid four-course meal in Sea Cloud’s stately dining room. The evening concluded with a slide show of photos captured by guests in the course of our voyage.
