Hvar – the island with the most academics in the world

Hvar

The Croatian island of Hvar, famed for its beauty, is also home to a remarkable academic phenomenon.

With 25 members of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU) hailing from the island, Hvar boasts one of the highest concentrations of academics per capita in the world.

Approximately 68 kilometres (42.25 mi) long, the island of Hvar in Croatia has a population of around 10,000 residents.

This extraordinary achievement is deeply rooted in the island’s historical and cultural heritage.

Kuzma Kovačić, a sculptor and one of Hvar’s distinguished academics, attributes the phenomenon to the spiritual and intellectual traditions nurtured over generations.

Families on Hvar emphasised education and spirituality, passing these values onto their children.

“The island of Hvar is one of the most important centres of Croatian history and culture. This phenomenon was born from these rich historical and cultural roots, and from the Christianity in which we have lived since its beginnings, from this rich spiritual heritage. This means that the Hvar regiment lived in that rich spirituality, that families nurtured spirituality, passed it on to their children, educated their children, Kovačić told HRT.

Hvar’s academic legacy includes notable figures such as Šime Ljubić, one of the founders of HAZU, historians Tomislav Raukar and Nikša Stančić, poet Antun Šoljan, and many others.

This legacy continues to inspire new generations on the island.

To honour this legacy, the “Decade of Academics from the Island of Hvar” project was launched, spearheaded by the Faros Institute for Science, Art, and Culture under the leadership of Professor Dr. Pero Lučin.

The project aims to celebrate and investigate the academic tradition of Hvar through a series of initiatives over ten years.

Deputy project leader Tarita Radonić, a history teacher at Hvar Secondary School, outlines the project’s goals. Activities will include erecting monuments to Hvar’s academics, hosting annual events called “Days of Hvar’s Academics,” compiling a comprehensive bibliography of their works, and conducting an empirical study titled “Academics and the Community.”

This research will involve local students, who will explore the influence of the island on these scholars, particularly during their formative years.

An integral part of the project, “Dica sa škoja” (Children of the Island), engages students in uncovering and presenting the impact of Hvar on its academics.

Radonić emphasises the importance of involving young people in preserving and understanding the island’s cultural heritage. The students will delve into the lesser-known aspects of the academics’ lives, such as their childhood experiences on the island.

The project team has established clear criteria for identifying “Hvar’s academics.” To qualify, individuals must either be born on Hvar, have lived there, or trace their ancestry to the island within two generations.

Beyond these 25 recognised academics, Hvar is also home to numerous intellectuals and contributors to Croatian and international academia, whose stories may also be explored in the future.

The “Decade of Academics from the Island of Hvar” promises to shine a light on the intellectual contributions of this remarkable island. Through a blend of historical research, community engagement, and youth involvement, the project not only celebrates Hvar’s past but also inspires its future.