The Doge's Shadow — Uncover Venetian Conspiracy in Hvar

Your investigation begins on the Riva, Hvar's waterfront promenade, built in the 16th century under Venetian rule. Approximately 450 meters long, it borders the main port and was the central place for social life. This is where whispers of anti-Venetian revolts brewed in the 17th century, and where merchant ships unloaded their precious cargo. As you walk along the quays, digital silhouettes of sailors and merchants appear, inviting you to decipher the first clues hidden in the details of the Venetian architecture bordering this historic alley of Dalmatia.

You are then led to the heart of the historic district, to Trg sv. Stjepana, Hvar's main square. Formed around the cathedral in the 15th century and paved with local limestone, this 3,000 m² square was the scene of lively markets and, more somberly, public executions under the Republic of Venice between 1420 and 1797. Around it stand Renaissance buildings, silent witnesses to pacts and betrayals. Your phone reveals secret marks on the cobblestones, symbols that only initiates of the Venetian era could understand, helping you progress in your quest for Croatia's UNESCO heritage.

Continue your investigation to the Biskupski dvor, the Episcopal Palace, a two-story Gothic-Renaissance building constructed in the 15th century as the residence of the bishops of Hvar. This palace, located on Trg sv. Stjepana, served as a refuge during the Turkish attacks in 1571, protecting archives dating back to 1145. The stone walls of the Biskupski dvor hold forgotten secrets. In augmented reality, you decipher messages hidden in engraved coats of arms, cryptic clues left by a spy of the time, which may well reveal the identity of the conspirators threatening the city of Hvar.

Your journey then takes you to the Hvarska Arsenal, a fortified shipyard 30 meters long built in 1611 by the Republic of Venice. Restored after the fire of 1780, this Croatian cultural monument was transformed into a theater in 1803, one of the oldest in Europe still in use. In front of its arcaded gallery, virtual maritime maps unfold, showing trade routes and meeting points of the conspirators. You must connect the information obtained at the Arsenal with that found at Palace Groda, a 17th-century noble palace in the fortified Groda district, owned by patrician families involved in trade with Venice.

Finally, your investigation concludes at the Gradska loža, the Municipal Loggia, built in the 15th century on the Riva. This seat of the Venetian communal government, with its columned structure and clock added in the 16th century, was the place for the proclamation of Doge's edicts and public judgments. A Renaissance fountain from 1465 is also integrated there. You now have all the pieces of the puzzle of this Venetian conspiracy in Hvar. Your insight has thwarted the plot, revealing the complexity of Hvar's history and its crucial role in Dalmatia. This interactive tour of Hvar will have plunged you into the heart of the political and commercial stakes of the era, offering you a unique understanding of its rich heritage.