Agave lace

Benedictine nunnery exists in Hvar since 1664, when two nuns came from RBA to Hvar and began its work on the island. The Hvar Commune worked on establishing the nunnery since 1534 and some of the residents with their donations encouraged its building. However, the greatest credit goes to bishop Milani who ended lengthy delay concerning the founding and personally went to Rab and brought back the nuns to the Hvar nunnery that was built on the bequest of poet Hanibal Lucić.

In 1836 the Hvar Commune asked the Benedictines to establish girl's public school, which they did and then ran it for 60 years: 1826 - 1886. In 1886 a basic state public school was founded in Hvar. Through centuries the nunnery has put its mark on spiritual character of the island but today it is especially renown throughout the world for its agave lace which is nourished only here in the nunnery through the centennial tradition that is passed from generation to generation.

We differ three kinds of lace by their make:

Tenerifa with waving around the circle - it is done with a small knitting needle and a metal, fishing-net needle.

Tenerifa - it is done with a small knitting needle on a cardboard.

Knitting using a thin needle on a fishing-net - on a stretched net, using a small knitting needle the embroidery is done in various pinches.