Konoba Bratanić: Croatian cultural heritage – public call for cooperation

(Photo: Mladen Mišo Šćerbe)

All interested tourist agencies and guides are invited to cooperate in telling stories and experiences in the family konoba Bratanić in Vrbanj on the island of Hvar. 

The authentic ambience of konoba Bratanić with its collection bearing the status of “Protected Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia”, is an ideal place to present the heritage of the island of Hvar, Dalmatia and Croatia.

“Given in consideration my physical separation from the island, and the health status of my parents, our family are looking for a model in which this national cultural heritage would become self-sustaining,” says Miki Bratanić, a member of the Bratanić family and “Story of the konoba” project author who is investing lot of effort to preserve his unique story-telling place.

In addition to the konoba, with its rich content, agencies and guides will have the opportunity to visit family vineyards in Starigrad plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also use “Story of the konoba” written content which summarizes the story of Dalmatian wine, Dalmatian food, Dalmatian klapa singing, Starigrad plain and all other heritage values that originate or are related to the konoba. 

At the same time, all winemakers from the island of Hvar are invited to cooperate in such a way that the Bratanić family konoba becomes a place where all their wines will be advertised. All the wines of the island of Hvar will be exhibited in the cultural heritage place. 

“Konoba Bratanić is not a restaurant, nor is it a winery, so it does not compete with anyone. It is a unique heritage place to tell beautiful and positive stories, and to promote our island, regional and national values,” continues Bratanić, adding: 

“I invite all institutions of the Republic of Croatia, from the local level, through the county, to the state, to get involved in this story that represents Croatia in the best possible light, through the prism of customs, traditions, heritage and culture.”

The Bratanić family konoba is the first and only konoba to bear the status of “Protected cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia”. It presents the unique preserved traditional Dalmatian piece of past time.

It is not a restaurant, or a pizzeria, nor a cafe, or any form of catering establishment. 

Konoba is a traditional old-fashion wine cellar, but primary, it is a way of living, the sense of life, philosophy, poetry, something that must be experienced.

The Bratanić family konoba have a large collection of documented artefacts, most of them in use for wine making and storing, which along with old and unchanged original ambient offer unforgettable experience.

The konoba is a perfect story telling place, with many stories related to konoba owners. The story of wine from Greek times, story about Starigrad plain, following the cross procession, Dalmatian a cappella singing and Mediterranean food, all of them UNESCO heritages are the best told here.

The Bratanić family is proud to preserve and share the story of the rebellion on island Hvar 500 years ago, which resulted with unique democratic achievement for those times. Rebellion leader Matij Ivanic, whose house where he was born, is in konoba neighborhood and is protected registered trademark of Bratanić family wines.

As per the Ministry of Culture, the Board for the preservation of cultural heritage from July 10th 2014, the collection of the Bratanić konoba in Vrbanj has been established as a cultural heritage.

 “The inventory of the konoba maintains the purpose of the traditional Dalmatian konoba. The preserved items are related to viticulture and wine-making, which have been the bases of Dalmatian economy for millennia, and the island of Hvar in particular. The preserved items testify about the changes in the manner of production and storage of wine, and according to them we can follow the development of wine-making and wineries; many different types of wine-press and barrels of various dimensions and materials. 

There are preserved stone oil basins, various tools necessary for working in a vineyard and olive garden, glass and wooden containers for wine, and many other equipment. Most of these items are still in use. Many traditional houses in Dalmatia have had their original appearance and purpose changed, and the original purpose of the konoba in particular has been lost or changed. 

Nowadays, the konoba is normally associated with various catering establishments that serve indigenous foods within the ambient of a vine-cellar. The Bratanić family konoba has maintained its original appearance and purpose, while its inventory preserves the traditional way of life and work of Dalmatia’s citizens. 

The Bratanić family konoba connects the material and immaterial cultural heritage of Dalmatia (traditional viticulture and wine-making are closely related to Mediterranean nutrition which is a part of UNESCO’s list of the world’s cultural heritage).”

(Photos: Mladen Mišo Šćerbe/Bratanić family archive)