Vis (town)

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Vis
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settlement_type = Town
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image_caption = Vis


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pushpin_map_caption = Location of Vis within Croatia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Croatia
subdivision_type1 = County
subdivision_name1 = Split-Dalmatia County
subdivision_type2 = Island
subdivision_name2 = Vis
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government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Ante Acalinović
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area_total_km2 = 52
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population_as_of = 2001
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population_total = 1960
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population_density_metro_km2 = 38
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timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=43 |latm=03 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=16 |longm=11 |longs= |longEW=E
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 0
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postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 21480
area_code = 021
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website = [http://www.vis.hr vis.hr]
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Vis is a town on the island of the same name in Croatia, population 1,776 (as of 2001). It is the center of the Vis municipality and part of Split-Dalmatia County.

History

First settlement in the place of today's town of Vis was built in the fourth century BC by Greek colonists from Sicily under the name of "Issa". Greeks were attracted by Issa's geographical position because it gave possibility to control movements of ships traveling in Adriatic Sea. Antique Issa started developing as the urban and economic center of Dalmatia and also served as the best military base for colonization of places near present-day town of Split, such as Stobreč ("Epetion") and Trogir ("Tragurion"). Issa functioned as independent polis all until first century when it got conquered by Roman Empire. After being conquered Issa lost its significance all until late medieval time when it was mentioned in several historical sources.

Geography

Town of Vis is positioned in relatively big and protected bay (Croatian: "uvala Svetog Jurja", English: "Bay of Saint George") on the north-east side of the island facing island of Hvar and Dalmatian land. Port of Vis is positioned in south-west part of the bay. The port is protected of open sea influence by small island of Host (named after William Hoste) and peninsula Prirovo (Prilovo). Other ports are smaller and positioned in Kut and Stonca, also parts of the town.

Vis is isolated from its fields ("Dračevo polje" and "Velo polje") thanks to 250-300 m high hills which are important for the local citizens as the main source of incomes because of grapes fields. Other official parts of the town are south and south-east coast made of villages positioned on bays such as Milna, Rukavac, Srebrna, Stiniva, Stončica), although some of them show tendency to become new towns. These bays and villages are, besides town of Vis self, the main source of tourist income in the whole island.

Authorities

Formal area of town of Vis is whole eastern part of the island. Western part of the island is under the authority of Komiža. Area of Vis embraces eight villages: Dračevo Polje, Marine Zemlje, Milna, Plisko Polje, Podselje, Podstražje, Rogačić and Rukavac. Town's council consists of eleven councilors divided currently in three groups; five councilors from SDP - HNS - HSS coalition, three from "Independent list of Ante Acalinović" and three from HDZ - HSP coalition. Ascendancy is currently held by HDZ - HSP coalition in alliance with the "Independent list".

Economy

Until the middle of the twentieth century the main sources of income were wineyards and wine production. In recent time more and more people work in tourism. The town is also famous for its greenery of palms, the only example on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.

Famous people

* Ivan Farolfi (1892 - 1945), high-ranked official and former mayor;
* Ranko Marinković (1913 - 2001), Croatian poet born in Vis;
* Vesna Parun (1922 - ), Croatian poet born in Zlarin but spending childhood in Vis;
* Mihovil Pušić (1880 - 1972), bishop of Hvar with ancestry from Vis

Monuments and historical sights

* Rests of antique Issa (thermae, necropolis, theatre, parts of the port)
* Five Roman catholic churches ("Župna crkva Gospe od Spilica", "Crkva svetog Ciprijana", "Crkva svetog Duha", Franciscan monastery on peninsula of Prirovo and "Crkva Vele Gospe")
* Residences of Hvar and Vis noble families (Hektorović, Jakša, Gariboldi, Dojmi Delupis)
* War forts dating from various time (from old Venice to Austria-Hungary)
* British Military Cemetery

Education

* Primary school Vis
* Secondary school named after Antun Matijašević - Karamaneo built in 1975. It is the center of secondary school education in whole island because no secondary schools exist in the rest of the island. Until the 1960s schools existed in villages of Podselje, Podstražje and Marine Zemlje which were closed because of emigrating population and lack of students.

port

* Cricket club named after sir William Hoste
* "ŠRC Issa" (sport and recreation club Issa)
* bowling club Vis