Donji Humac

Donji Humac is one of the oldest settlements on the Croatian island of Brač, located on an inland hill. The top of the hill is marked by a widely visible Baroque bell-tower. The nearby Kopačina cave was inhabited more than 13,200 years ago. As of the 2011 census, Donji Humac has a population of 177 – far below its height at the beginning of the 20th century of more than 500 people, before several waves of emigration depopulated the settlement.

The village is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north-west of Nerežišća, and linked to Supetar, the largest city of Brač, through a paved 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) road northwards, mostly following state road D113. A county road (Ž6188) leads westwards to Dračevica, about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) away.

To the south and west of the settlement are fertile fields, where traces of pre-Croatian habitation have been found. Some of these traces, such as Roman ornaments, have been incorporated into the houses of the settlement, such as those of the Dragičević and Laurić families.

Donji Humac is surrounded by a number of quarries. The local stone gave the settlement its distinct look very early on, and many old elements of the settlement are still preserved. The closeness to the quarries also led to a tradition of artistic stonemasonry in the village, which continues today. In 1996, an international meeting of stonemasons led to the creation of a number of monuments which are now spread throughout the settlement. Besides stone, the main sources of income have traditionally been wine, olives, cherries, sheep husbandry, hunting and, more recently, tourism.