From above, Bavljenac Island looks like a giant fingerprint whose pattern is made from 1,000 stone walls that are more than 200 years old.
Bavljenac is a small uninhabited island in the Adriatic Sea, 10 km off the coast of Croatia. The island is covered with a network of ancient stone walls built in the 1800s. From above, these walls look like the lines on a fingertip, making the whole island look like a giant fingerprint or maze in the middle of the ocean.
According to the Croatian National Tourist Board, the island has an area of 0.14 square kilometers. The stone walls are waist-high and, if connected, would be 23 kilometers long. This Croatian dry stone walling art was included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2018.
They were created using the “dry stone wall” technique, stacking and nesting stones. Most of the walls were built in the 19th century by people living on the neighboring island of Kaprije. They used Bavljenac to grow fruit trees and built dry stone walls to protect the trees from the wind and to demarcate plots of land. Based on the remaining traces, scientists believe that people used the land on the island to grow grapes. Grapevines in Dalmatia thrive on rocky soil, lots of sun, and little rain. Therefore, Bavljenac is an ideal place to grow Dalmatian grapes.
There are currently more than 100 people, mostly from Kaprije, registered on Bavljenac Island. There is not much to explore on the island other than stone walls, dry grass and wild plants. However, it is still a favorite destination for adventurous tourists thanks to its special shape seen from above. There are no ports or boats around the island. Visitors who want to approach the island can rent boats from local travel companies on nearby inhabited islands. Tours to the island are usually day trips.
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Bavljenac belongs to the Sibenik archipelago of Dalmatia, consisting of nearly 250 small islands stretching along the coast over an area of 160 km2. The 6 islands of this archipelago are permanently inhabited with a total population of about 7,500 people: Kaprije, Krapanj, Murter, Prvic, Zirje, Zlarin.
Among the islands, Kaprije (closest to Bavljenac Island) is a must-see destination for boating enthusiasts, and a perfect stopover for those traveling between Split and Kornati. "Kaprije" means caper, a Mediterranean plant whose edible fruits and buds are often used as a garnish on plates. There are hardly any cars on the island, and only small roads serve as walking paths for people to reach their farms. Dalmatian wine is famous for its deliciousness, and visitors should not miss it when visiting this place.
The sparsely inhabited Sibenik archipelago is described by Croatian tour operators as "a destination for those seeking privacy and unspoiled nature". The inhabited islands are connected to each other and to the mainland by ferries.
All inhabited islands have rooms or apartments for rent. Hotel prices in Sibenik start from around 41 euros. All islands have local tourist offices. Alternatively, visitors can contact the Sibenik County Tourist Office for assistance.
Visitors can choose direct flights to Split, one of Croatia's major cities, and then catch a bus to the town of Sibenik, 60 km away. From this town you can catch a daily ferry or charter a boat to the island.
The art of stone masonry on the island of Bavljenac has been recognised as an intangible heritage of humanity. The Croatian government said it is "working seriously" with UNESCO to have Bavljenac recognised as a heritage site soon, helping the island become even more famous on the world tourism map.
According to vnexpress.net
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