Hermitage Blaca
Coordinates: 43 ° 17 ′ 35.3 ″ N , 16 ° 31 ′ 46 ″ E
The Hermitage Blaca ( pronounced: blatza ) on the Croatian island of Brač is a unique monastery complex .
The Hermitage was founded by monks , so-called Glagolites , who fled the mainland from the Turkish attacks . The monastery is located a little further inside the island, cannot be seen from the sea, but can be reached quickly after a short walk. Over time, the Hermitage became a progressive agricultural property, but it fell into disrepair as the way of life and work changed. The whole valley in which it is located was neglected and was left to the natural succession of vegetation .
The hermitage was later used as an observatory by Father Nikola Miličević (1887–1963), an (amateur) astronomer who studied mathematics and astronomy in Vienna. From this place he discovered some so-called Novae (periodic bursts of brightness of stars) and comets , he was also active in the dissemination of astronomical knowledge and printed his own astronomical journal. In his honor and in memory of this extraordinary place, two asteroids were named (10241) "Nikola Miličević" and (10645) "Brač" by decision of the International Astronomical Union in 2005 . They were discovered at the Croatian Višnjan observatory in 1999.
The Hermitage has been converted into a small museum in recent years, where you can examine old objects from the monarchy, astronomical utensils (for example a relatively large telescope from 1935) and a grand piano. During his years there, Father Nikola Miličević made himself really comfortable and, due to the distance to Rome, he enjoyed some freedoms (such as unhindered scientific work) that other monasteries did not have. Although the monastery can only be reached on foot and by donkey, he still had objects such as the telescope or the wing carried up there.
Here is a little glimpse into today's museum:
Wing of the last priest
Telescope of the last prater
Old script
Music box and book press
Old monastery kitchen
School room of the monastery
Herd of goats of the monastery
