Blaca
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
222 reviews
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128
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EugeneOregonUSA
Eugene, OR198 contributions
May 2022
We came by foot from from Bol via Via Brattia trail. From Blaca Bay we hiked up to Blaca Monastery. Fantastic 16th century dwellings with ton of history. Place is well preserved and taken care of. Guided 30 minute for 40HRK is well worth it . Highly recommended.
Fast, short trail option is to use rough road and arrive by car to the trailhead north of hermitage and then hike steep 0.75 mile trail down to the hermitage.
Fast, short trail option is to use rough road and arrive by car to the trailhead north of hermitage and then hike steep 0.75 mile trail down to the hermitage.
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VWard93
Norwich, United Kingdom37 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
We went on the Thursday excursion where you take a boat from Bol harbour to Blaca beach. It cost 120kn each. Once we reached the beach, it was a 2.5k trail walk up to the hermatige. The group from the boat that we were with split into English and German speaking tour groups. The tour guide was very funny, partly due to his broken English and repeatition of the same phases throughout the tour. It's an extra 40kn for the tour, but worth doing. It's not worth the walk if you don't do the tour, as there's not much to see from the outside. With our boat group, we had about 40 minutes on the beach before leaving, while other people in the group finished their tour and walked back. On the way there on the boat you get a bit of bread with ham and cheese, and some wine to try on the way back. Definitely take a good supply of food and water with you as there are no taps to fill up with.
Written June 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saifuddin G
17 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
It's a nice visit if you have time on Brac. A couple of things that might be useful
There are signs to get to the place. Once you get closer, you will see a sign that says 2.5KM walk to the monastery (~30 min) and a large area for parking. If you put pustinja blaca on google maps, it will tell you to go further ahead. We went further ahead until where google maps says you have arrived. There is a green patch of grass where we parked our car (no official parking area). There is a fence but you can jump the fence and guess what, there is a legit trail that only takes 15-20min. It is clearly marked as well with red and white (target) type of signs. We just got lucky because we completely missed the parking lot with the sign :) - The tour itself is short ~30 min and it's not a must visit but a nice activity to do if you have some spare time
There are signs to get to the place. Once you get closer, you will see a sign that says 2.5KM walk to the monastery (~30 min) and a large area for parking. If you put pustinja blaca on google maps, it will tell you to go further ahead. We went further ahead until where google maps says you have arrived. There is a green patch of grass where we parked our car (no official parking area). There is a fence but you can jump the fence and guess what, there is a legit trail that only takes 15-20min. It is clearly marked as well with red and white (target) type of signs. We just got lucky because we completely missed the parking lot with the sign :) - The tour itself is short ~30 min and it's not a must visit but a nice activity to do if you have some spare time
Written May 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwyneath
UK34 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
I am so glad we managed to get to Blanca. We'd heard a lot about it but had also heard that it was a bit of a hike and being lazy holidaymakers, kept putting it off. But it turned out to be my favourite day on Brac.
it's a bit like something out of a movie. You can only get there on foot and it's a 2km hike down and beautiful gorge which leads to the sea. If you come by boat, it's a 2km hike up to the monastery from the sea. None of that is by accident, rather it's because it kept the site better protected from invaders.
It started as a cave lived in by a few monks fleeing persecution and was built up over the centuries into a wealthy monastery which was hyper self sufficient, so much so that it could afford the largest telescope in Croatia, amongst other things.
There is so much to say, but it's better to see for yourself. The curators are two brothers who have been there for years and they are helpful, friendly and informative. We loved the tour and couldn't believe the stories of the place. One thing we did feel was missing though was a booklet or guide to take away. And our guide for the day tantalisingly told us that his mother had been one of the last class of kids to have been taught in the classroom in the 60's. We would love to have read more about her experiences as a schoolgirl in a place where she had to pay for her education by bringing a large piece of firewood to school every day. It would have been great to have heard some personal stories of the people whom lived and worked here.
What you do need to know is that if you do the walk in summer - wear a hat and take water - really - you will need it.
If you only do one thing on Brac that is cultural/energetic/educational make it this - it's stunning
it's a bit like something out of a movie. You can only get there on foot and it's a 2km hike down and beautiful gorge which leads to the sea. If you come by boat, it's a 2km hike up to the monastery from the sea. None of that is by accident, rather it's because it kept the site better protected from invaders.
It started as a cave lived in by a few monks fleeing persecution and was built up over the centuries into a wealthy monastery which was hyper self sufficient, so much so that it could afford the largest telescope in Croatia, amongst other things.
There is so much to say, but it's better to see for yourself. The curators are two brothers who have been there for years and they are helpful, friendly and informative. We loved the tour and couldn't believe the stories of the place. One thing we did feel was missing though was a booklet or guide to take away. And our guide for the day tantalisingly told us that his mother had been one of the last class of kids to have been taught in the classroom in the 60's. We would love to have read more about her experiences as a schoolgirl in a place where she had to pay for her education by bringing a large piece of firewood to school every day. It would have been great to have heard some personal stories of the people whom lived and worked here.
What you do need to know is that if you do the walk in summer - wear a hat and take water - really - you will need it.
If you only do one thing on Brac that is cultural/energetic/educational make it this - it's stunning
Written September 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
igrskovi
Washington Township, NJ45 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
We took a day trip by ferry to this remote inlet where we swam in solitude and then hiked up to the mountain top to a hermitage/ monestary built in the 14 c. What a gem, what a find!!! We'll worth the 1/2 hr. Walk up to see the museum & church! So glad we decided to visit!!!
Written August 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Friedfrogabroad
Crosby, UK33 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Although the site is worth the visit, we wasted a lot of time finding it so thought I would try and save other families having the same issues. You need a car to get to the site but the last part is track so be prepared. 2 adults and 1child in a small Corsa and we were fine, but 4 adults you might scrape in places and might want to upgrade.
DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS unless you have hired a 4X4 !!! Most of the roads around the island are tracks and Google can't tell the difference . Also the map you get given everywhere was printed in 2013 and some of the roads have changed since then which can be confusing. Google took us the Milna way and it's20+ kms of tracks and we had to turn back eventually.
Follow the main road to Bol and just before Nerežišća you will see a sign on your right for Pustinja Blaca, follow it and eventually you'll get to another sign saying 5.5kms by car and 2.5kms by foot. Follow the track all the way to the car park.
The walk down and back up is not hard but it is hot so have at least trainers and plenty of water.
LAST IMPORTANT FACT: Time your visit well. They only have 2 guides and 1 only speaks German and Croatian. As the other guide was already involved in a tour we couldn't visit the site as we arrived at 1pm and they close between 1.30 and 2pm. Although the place is shaded it would have meant waiting 1 hour in the midday heat with a child and we decided to head back up.
Hope this helps other families have a more successful day that we had.
DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS unless you have hired a 4X4 !!! Most of the roads around the island are tracks and Google can't tell the difference . Also the map you get given everywhere was printed in 2013 and some of the roads have changed since then which can be confusing. Google took us the Milna way and it's20+ kms of tracks and we had to turn back eventually.
Follow the main road to Bol and just before Nerežišća you will see a sign on your right for Pustinja Blaca, follow it and eventually you'll get to another sign saying 5.5kms by car and 2.5kms by foot. Follow the track all the way to the car park.
The walk down and back up is not hard but it is hot so have at least trainers and plenty of water.
LAST IMPORTANT FACT: Time your visit well. They only have 2 guides and 1 only speaks German and Croatian. As the other guide was already involved in a tour we couldn't visit the site as we arrived at 1pm and they close between 1.30 and 2pm. Although the place is shaded it would have meant waiting 1 hour in the midday heat with a child and we decided to head back up.
Hope this helps other families have a more successful day that we had.
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
izzeebee
Greater London, UK12 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
After 3 failed attempts we finally managed to visit Blaca Monastry today and were not disappointed. We previously gave up trying to reach it by car from Vidora Gova as the road is much too rough to risk in a hire car and there is still a long walk when you
do arrive at the car park. We took the boat trip with the boat Farne from the harbour in Bol which left at 9am. We arrived 30 minutes before and were able to buy tickets - kn140 each for the boat trip and another kn40 each for the tour of the Monastry which you pay there. Wear trainers or sturdy shoes as the 1 hour walk is on very rough terrain although apart from the last 100 metres or so up to the Monastry at the end it is not too tough going. Also take water with you.
We learnt that the people who provide the guided tours are a family who were essentially born and brought up there but who now live elsewhere on the island. They therefore have to do the walk up and down each day and also to carry all supplies with them! We therefore appreciated that they make an effort to have cold drinks available and in the circumstances the charge is very reasonable. Also one brother conducts tours in Croatian and the other has to split tours into English/French and German and as space is limited inside you may just have to be patient and wait if you want the tour. Our guide from our boat told us that if it weren't for the family and their history with Blaca it would be almost impossible to get people to work there.
Perhaps other reviewers who have been less than complimentary did not know the background.
It is a fascinating place and definitely worth the effort of getting there. Altough it's an organised trip you can walk up at your own pace and then make you way back down to Blaca Bay (beautiful crystal blue water) to wait for the boat back to Bol.
do arrive at the car park. We took the boat trip with the boat Farne from the harbour in Bol which left at 9am. We arrived 30 minutes before and were able to buy tickets - kn140 each for the boat trip and another kn40 each for the tour of the Monastry which you pay there. Wear trainers or sturdy shoes as the 1 hour walk is on very rough terrain although apart from the last 100 metres or so up to the Monastry at the end it is not too tough going. Also take water with you.
We learnt that the people who provide the guided tours are a family who were essentially born and brought up there but who now live elsewhere on the island. They therefore have to do the walk up and down each day and also to carry all supplies with them! We therefore appreciated that they make an effort to have cold drinks available and in the circumstances the charge is very reasonable. Also one brother conducts tours in Croatian and the other has to split tours into English/French and German and as space is limited inside you may just have to be patient and wait if you want the tour. Our guide from our boat told us that if it weren't for the family and their history with Blaca it would be almost impossible to get people to work there.
Perhaps other reviewers who have been less than complimentary did not know the background.
It is a fascinating place and definitely worth the effort of getting there. Altough it's an organised trip you can walk up at your own pace and then make you way back down to Blaca Bay (beautiful crystal blue water) to wait for the boat back to Bol.
Written July 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark M
Eilat, Israel3 contributions
Jul 2017 • Business
The Monastery at Pustinja Blaca was simply amazing,full of interesting artifacts and mind blowing history.
Although there is No photography allowed inside the Monastery,the expert guide Zorda will narrate the whole story from beginning to end of how Blaca Hermitage came into existence.
Finding the place is a nightmare,so I will tell you how I found it,even with a SatNav !
Arriving from the Ferry Port of Sumartin from Makarska or from Supetar from Split,It really doesn't matter,from Sumartin you drive heading towards Nerezisca,heading West,about half a mile before the sign for Nerezisca,you will see a hand written sign on a small billboard on the left hand side of the road,the sign states Blaca Hermitage. You need to be driving slowly at approx 25 mph to see this sign as it isn't that obvious.
If you miss this sign then take the sign for(Turn Right) for Nerezisca,turn around the one way system at Nerezisca and come back up the hill and turn Left at the Nerezisca sign,the way you came as if heading back to Sumartin.Now try to look for the small hand written sign on the right hand side of the road now,you will see for sure,about less than half a mile from the Nerezisca sign.
Take the Blaca Hermitage sign and follow the stony,bumpy path for about twenty minutes,it is well sign posted now,so you can't possibly get lost,just keep following the signs,go slow please as other cars and taxi's come towards you on blind corners and it is a single track road.
You will eventually arrive at the car park,park up and walk towards the large billboard explaining the history of the Blaca Hermitage,in both English and Croatian.
Follow the red painted markers,some are like a circle with a line,this line indicates the direction you will take,others just three red paint dashes,keep going down hill for about thirty minutes,when you reach the lovely stone cross,then you are about two minutes away,heading left(West).Go on up the ramp and there in front of you is the closed door to the Entrance,Ring the Bell as asked and within minutes you will be greeted by the assistant,who will sit you down in the shade and then you will wait for Zorda,the guide,who speaks excellent English,as well as other languages.Photography is allowed outside the main Monastery,so take this opportunity to get some good pictures,as after that it is forbidden,but once inside you will fully understand why!
Although there is No photography allowed inside the Monastery,the expert guide Zorda will narrate the whole story from beginning to end of how Blaca Hermitage came into existence.
Finding the place is a nightmare,so I will tell you how I found it,even with a SatNav !
Arriving from the Ferry Port of Sumartin from Makarska or from Supetar from Split,It really doesn't matter,from Sumartin you drive heading towards Nerezisca,heading West,about half a mile before the sign for Nerezisca,you will see a hand written sign on a small billboard on the left hand side of the road,the sign states Blaca Hermitage. You need to be driving slowly at approx 25 mph to see this sign as it isn't that obvious.
If you miss this sign then take the sign for(Turn Right) for Nerezisca,turn around the one way system at Nerezisca and come back up the hill and turn Left at the Nerezisca sign,the way you came as if heading back to Sumartin.Now try to look for the small hand written sign on the right hand side of the road now,you will see for sure,about less than half a mile from the Nerezisca sign.
Take the Blaca Hermitage sign and follow the stony,bumpy path for about twenty minutes,it is well sign posted now,so you can't possibly get lost,just keep following the signs,go slow please as other cars and taxi's come towards you on blind corners and it is a single track road.
You will eventually arrive at the car park,park up and walk towards the large billboard explaining the history of the Blaca Hermitage,in both English and Croatian.
Follow the red painted markers,some are like a circle with a line,this line indicates the direction you will take,others just three red paint dashes,keep going down hill for about thirty minutes,when you reach the lovely stone cross,then you are about two minutes away,heading left(West).Go on up the ramp and there in front of you is the closed door to the Entrance,Ring the Bell as asked and within minutes you will be greeted by the assistant,who will sit you down in the shade and then you will wait for Zorda,the guide,who speaks excellent English,as well as other languages.Photography is allowed outside the main Monastery,so take this opportunity to get some good pictures,as after that it is forbidden,but once inside you will fully understand why!
Written October 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
artairman
Salt Lake City, UT158 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
After a pleasant boat trip up the west coast of Brac from the town of Bol, hikers disembark for the hour-long climb up a secluded valley to this historic Hermitage Blaca museum. Once the home of monks, the buildings built into the caves along the top of the valley now house an excellent museum with amazing artifacts, a telescope (the last monk was a renowned European astronomer) and a library of over 8000 volumes. A long climb suitable for active folks (the path is stony and steep at the end), the views and history are well worth it. This is an undiscovered gem... Plan on spending a day on the boat, hiking up/down, and touring...
Written July 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mariak1234
Lee, UK82 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
Dont be a fool like me, didn't check it wasn't open on Monday (might be open for groups, but not for "normal public"). We hiked up from the beach nearby (we were dropped off by the boat from Bol) and rather annoyed man(I presume his was a guide for a pre booked tourist group) slammed a door on my face when I poked my head in. Make sure you confirm when you book your boat trip there that you can get in and see what it is all about as they may not tell you that you can only see a little bit of the grounds if you go there on Monday.
Written September 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Companion58130953445
NJ207 contributions
Hello. How do you get to the Monastery without a car? I will be staying in Bol.
Richard Gander
Worthing, UK28 contributions
As far as I know , the only other way is by boat
The boat trip leaves from Bol harbour at 9am . ( get down for 8.30 )
It is the military tunnel trip that includes Blaca beach
It is 180kn which includes a little sandwich and a glass of wine
You are back in Bol by 2-3pm
Well worth the trip
Sunshine693982
Trieste, Italy
Buongiorno. Come devo fare per prenotare la visita guidata in italiano?
Patrizia_Go
Busto Garolfo, Italy17 contributions
Ciao, non la puoi prenotare.... la "guida turistica" è un caro signore che soggiorna nel monastero di Blaca con sua madre per gran parte dell'anno, parla e comprende molto bene l'italiano. Io e la mia famiglia ci siamo trovati benissimo!!
Hi, I've been looking around for a tour to Blaca Monastery and Vidova gora. Is it better to book it online or to go there and look around? Will there be cheap tours that start from Split?
ACJHuddersfield
Huddersfield169 contributions
We are staying on Hvar. If we take the catamaran to Bol, arriving at 12.30 and leaving at 4 pm, have we time to take the ferry to Blaca Bay, do the hermitage and return in time for the catamaran .
Erika J
Ickenham, UK162 contributions
We did the journey from inland, tavelling mainly downhill, and occasionally uphill, and it was a hefty walk that took an hour. We saw folk who had got the Bol ferry and they were tired but glad to be there, but it's a long old journey uphill all the way from Bol I think. If you are fit and well and have water, it's probably not a problem. But to be honest, I've not walked that route. Be advised it is closed on mondays! (We heard people talking about friends who hadn't been told in Bol, and got to the monastery only to find it closed with no exceptions!
Jude C
Brighton and Hove, UK7,986 contributions
If I get a bus from Supetar towards Bol where do I get off to walk to Blaca monastery? Is it signposted? How long will it take?
izzeebee
Greater London, UK12 contributions
You can't walk from Bol. You need to take the boat trip which leaves Bol at 9am and returns around 2.30/3.00pm.
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Claim your listingBlaca - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Blaca
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