Komiza, Vis Island

Komiza on Vis Island is the little Mediterranean fishing village you've always dreamed of. A jumble of pleasantly ramshackle 17th and 18th-century houses crowd around a port and bay at the foot of Hum hill. As an old fishing port, Komiza dates at least from the 12th century and it was here that the first fish processing factory in Dalmatia was built in 1830. At the western edge of the town is a pebble beach sheltered by trees and on the eastern side there are three pebble beaches.

In the second half of the 13th century, Benedictines from the neighbouring islet of Bisevo moved to their new monastery east of Komiza and the village grew around it. Today's monastery and the church date from the 17th century. The church contains carved Baroque altars and at the end of the main wharf is a Renaissance citadel dating from 1585.

There's not much to do in Komiza during the day except relax and putter around but it is the closest departure point to take an excursion to nearby Bisevo Island to experience its Blue Cave. A number of travel agencies run daily morning boats to Bisevo.

Nightlife in Komiza is lively. Just east of town is Aquarius, an open-air disco on Kamenica beach.