In Jelsa, the “Za Križen” Gallery Opened – a New Interpretation Centre Dedicated to the UNESCO Procession

In Jelsa, the “Za Križen” gallery has been officially opened, a new cultural and interpretive space dedicated to one of the most important and recognizable traditions of Hvar and Dalmatia – the “Following the Cross” procession, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This is a modernly designed gallery that brings visitors closer to the centuries-old tradition of the night procession held on the island of Hvar on the eve of Good Friday. Through multimedia and interpretive content, the gallery presents the spiritual, historical, and cultural dimensions of this unique custom, which is deeply rooted in the identity of the local community.

The opening was attended by numerous representatives of public, religious, and cultural life, including the envoy of the Minister of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Ivana Podrug Radovani; the envoy of the Prefect of Split-Dalmatia County, Ivan Slavić; the Mayor of the Municipality of Jelsa, Marija Marjan; the parish priest Don Ivan Jurin; former parish priest Don Stanko Jerčić; and the director of the Jelsa Tourist Board, Milan Vranković. The ceremony was musically enriched by the St. Cecilia Choir.

The “Za Križen” gallery is designed as a blend of heritage and modern technology, with the aim of preserving and interpreting the procession in a way accessible to different generations of visitors. The space features audio and visual recordings, 3D representations, multimedia installations, and educational content that depict the course of the procession, its symbolism, and the role of brotherhoods in its preservation.

The project was developed as part of a broader cultural-tourism interpretive system that also includes a mobile application, a marked procession route, visual identity, as well as accompanying publications and souvenirs. This further strengthens the recognition of the “Za Križen” procession at both national and international levels, including its connection with the European Holy Week network.

Mayor Marija Marjan emphasized that the project is the result of long-term work and cooperation among numerous institutions, and that the gallery represents an important step in the preservation and modern presentation of local intangible heritage.

The “Za Križen” gallery is open to visitors daily from 6 to 9 p.m. After an initial period of free admission until July 5, it will continue with regular opening hours from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m.