ST. NICHOLAS

St. Nicholas On the biggest Dalmatian island – Brač, one of the smallest Adriatic lighthouses was built. The lighthouse of St. Nicholas is situated in the central part of the north coast of the island, above the west promontory of the bay of Pučišća. Austro-Hungarian Monarchy entered this location into the map of future Adriatic lighthouses because of the proximity of the quarry of Brač, situated at the opposite promontory of the same bay. After the location for the lighthouse had been determined, the road - greatly preserved in its original condition, was built from the settlement Pučišća to the place where the lighthouse was to be built. From the lighthouse further towards west there is only a sea way, leading to a number of hidden small bays. The legend has it that initially it was planned to erect a huge stone lighthouse, because of the abundance of stone material and available constructors. However, since the quarry workers were constantly busy with huge orders of Brač stone that were loaded into hundreds of ships, the building of the lighthouse was constantly put off. Still, in the end, in the vicinity of the biggest island quarry, in 1882, relatively quickly one of the smallest Adriatic lighthouses was erected. After the accomplishment it was right away equipped with strong light lenses and the resulting light beam was much stronger than today. At night, directed by white flashes from St. Nicholas, during many decades last ships sailing to Pučišća to load stone from the quarry were guided. The lighthouse is a low square stone tower with the gallery and a small turret. The once lighthouse keeper’s flat has only 58 m2 and next to it is a small storage and a water cistern, still in use. In the courtyard of the lighthouse is a small chapel and there are also ideas to install the statue of St. Nicholas at the promontory beneath the lighthouse. The last lighthouse keeper was here on duty in the 80-ties of the 20th century. In the beginning of the 1990-ies the light in the turret was made automatic. Since then and after the last lighthouse keeper had left, only rare voyagers drop by. In summer also the old Austro-Hungarian road leading to the lighthouse is closed for traffic and thus many tourists who spend their summer in Pučišća are not aware of this building - a valuable, cultural and historic monument at the outer promontory of the bay. The building of the lighthouse is today just sporadically used by the workers of Plovput, company taking care of lighthouses. And out at sea, especially during night when strong north wind blows, the light of St. Nicholas marks the only safe refuge to every day greater number of yachtsmen who cruise along the northern coast of the island of Brač. Thus has - in spite of the modern satellite navigation, one of the smallest Adriatic lighthouses till today maintained its basic function in the east Adriatic sailing security system.