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Hvar is both the name of the island and the name of the capital (Hvar Town), which sits near the island's western tip. Hvar Town rises like an amphitheater from its harbor, backed by a hilltop fortress and protected from the open sea by a scattering of small islands known as Pakleni Otoci ("hellish islands", although paradise islands would be a more fitting name). Along the palm-lined quay, a string of cafés and restaurants is shaded by colorful awnings and umbrellas. A few steps away, the magnificent main square, St. Stephen's Square (Trg sv. Stjepana), the largest piazza in Dalmatia, is backed by the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Stephen (Katedrala sv. Stjepana). Other notable sights in town include the Fortica Fortress and the Franciscan Monastery (Franjeva?ki samostan). In addition, partiers and explorers from all over the world flock to Hvar Town en masse so expect it to be crowded and expensive through peak season. Celebrity visitors have included King Abdullah of Jordan and his wife, Queen Rania, Italian clothing entrepreneur Luciano Benetton, Prince Harry of England, Beyoncé and her husband Jay Z, and many, many more.
A short walk east of town, along the quay past the Arsenal, lies Hvar Town's Franciscan monastery. Within its walls, a pretty 15th-century Renaissance cloister leads to the former refectory, now housing a small museum with several notable artworks, including a beautiful fresco of the Last Supper. The grounds outside make a relaxing place for a stroll among centuries-old cypress trees.
