Stari Grad Plain

The Stari Grad Plain of the town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, Croatia, is an agricultural landscape that was set up by the ancient Greek colonists in the 4th century BC, and remains in use. The plain is generally still in its original form. The ancient layout has been preserved by careful maintenance of the stone walls over 24 centuries, along with the stone shelters (known locally as trims[1][2]), and the water collection system. The same crops, mainly grapes and olives, are still grown in the fields, and the site is also a natural reserve. The site is a valuable example of the ancient Greek system of agriculture.[3]

The Stari Grad Plain
Native name
Croatian: Starogradsko polje
The Stari Grad Plain
LocationSplit-Dalmatia County,  Croatia
Coordinates43°10′54″N 16°38′19″E
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii, v
Designated2008 (32nd Session)
Reference no.1240
Europe and North America
Official nameStarogradsko polje
Location of The Stari Grad Plain in Croatia
The foundations of the ancient Greek watch-tower Maslinovik overlooking the Stari Grad Plain

The plain demonstrates the comprehensive system of agriculture as used by the ancient Greeks. The land was divided into geometrical parcels (chora) bounded by dry stone walls. The system included a rainwater recovery system involving the use of gutters and storage cisterns. The original field layout has been respected by the continuous maintenance of the boundary walls by succeeding generations. Agricultural activity in the chora has been uninterrupted for 24 centuries up to the present day. What we see today is a continuation of the cultural landscape of the original Greek colonists.

The Stari Grad Plain is Croatia's 7th location protected by UNESCO.[4][5][6]

References
  1. Stone Shelters on Hvar by Borut Juvanec
  2. The Trims of Hvar, by Berislav Horvatić
  3. Official UNESCO Report
  4. Starigrad na UNESCO-ovoj listi
  5. UNESCO includes eight new monuments into the world heritage list
  6. UNESCO - Stari Grad Plain
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