Whoever expects a boring museum will be very surprised. The Fisheries Museum in Vrboska is a nice and interesting trip not only for adults but also for children. Our two small children (5 years and 2.5 years old) really enjoyed the museum, they were most interested in the exhibits of various underwater animals. The exhaustive explanation by a museum employee also contributes to the wonderful experience. Although the explanation is in Croatian, one can easily understand what is being talked about – partly because the vocabulary is quite similar, and partly because there are many exhibits that visibly facilitate the explanation. So even if you don't understand much Croatian, I believe you will understand everything. Moreover, it was clear that the gentleman was used to speaking to foreigners and described things very simply, often even using some Czech. We really liked the museum.
Vrboska has been closely linked to fishing from the beginning, especially sardine fishing. Vrboska was founded in the 15th century as a port for the village of Vrbanj. From 1894, a sardine processing factory operated in Vrboska. When the factory ceased operations in 1972, the fisheries museum was founded in the same year, and part of the factory's equipment is housed in the museum.
In addition to the factory equipment, there is a nice collection of marine animals – preserved fish, crabs, shells, and much more. Other items were donated to the museum by fishing families from Vrboska and other places on Hvar island. Here you will see how fish were caught in the past using lanterns or burning wood. It is a beautiful journey into the history of fishing. The last part consists of a display of traditional fishing cuisine. Then there are also ship logs, maps, and other documents to see.
The museum is located in the center of Vrboska on the waterfront. It's a pleasant diversion during a walk and doesn't take too much time. We might even go back next year.
