Starogradsko Polje (Ager): A Living Legacy of Centuries

Starogradsko Polje, located at the heart of the island, has seen its name change alongside its rulers: it was known as the Greek “Khora Pharu” (pronounced – Hora Farau), the Roman “Ager Pharensis,” the medieval “Campus Sancti Stephani” (Field of St. Stephen), and today it is recognized as “Starogradsko Polje.” Throughout the ages, this field has been the lifeblood of the island, sustaining its inhabitants for millennia.

This landscape is, in fact, a cultural tapestry shaped over thousands of years. Its fundamental architecture was established by Greek colonists 24 centuries ago, with rectangular plots measuring 1×5 stadia (approximately 180x900m) delineated by dry-stone walls. Major roads intersect the field both lengthwise and crosswise, creating a meticulous grid pattern. The parceling of Starogradsko Polje stands as a masterpiece of Greek culture in the Mediterranean.

Today, a well-known point in the field marks the intersection of roads from which the Greek surveyor commenced this monumental endeavor. We even have knowledge of one prominent landowner from Greek times, Matij (son of) Pitejev (Greek: Mathios Pytheos), whose name is engraved on a boundary stone preserved in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb.

In the region of Kupinovik, below Dola, the land initially belonged to a Greek named Kmon (son of) Filoksenidov (Greek: Komon Filoxenides). Later, a substantial economic house was constructed there by the city councilor Pharije, a Roman by the name of Gaj Kornificije Kar (Latin: Gaius Cornificius carus).

Considering that Starogradsko Polje has maintained its agrarian character throughout its history, including today, layers of all the cultures that have relied on its possession have accumulated within it. The field hides nearly 120 archaeological sites, dating from prehistory to the Middle Ages.

Starogradsko Polje has always been planted with vineyards, and in antiquity and the Middle Ages, it also saw the cultivation of wheat. Fig trees grew on the edges of plots and in less fertile areas. Almonds (bajami) were always closer to settlements, almost in gardens. Olive groves, as they do today, clung to the low slopes of the field, while carob trees grew among the olives. Furthermore, until recently, terraced lavender plantations adorned the landscape, planted after the decline of vineyards in the early 20th century. Today, Aleppo pine trees are slowly descending towards the outskirts of the settlement.

The significance of Starogradsko Polje as an archaeological site was recognized back in 1993 when it was designated as an archaeological zone.

In 2008, Starogradsko Polje, with its best-preserved cadastral division in the Mediterranean, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, alongside the old town core of Stari Grad.

Since then, the field has been managed by the “Agency for the Management of Starogradsko Polje,” headquartered in Stari Grad. While preserving its heritage, their goal is to appropriately incorporate this valuable resource into the overall cultural and tourist offerings of the island of Hvar.