Permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition in the Visitor Centre, stretching through two stories of the former Biševo elementary school, introduces the flora and fauna of the island, as well as the most important geological and geographical features of Biševo.

Here you can find out which are the protected areas of nature on Biševo island – the Blue Cave, the Monk Seal Cave, learn about the coralligenous reefs and the importance of Posidonia seagrass, peek into the avifauna and herpetofauna of Biševo and the Vis archipelago, see the examples of the island’s flora and get to know the common bottlenose dolphin and other large vertebrates of the Vis archipelago, as well as get a glimpse of the rich historic and cultural heritage of Biševo island.

So far, a total of 485 plant species and subspecies have been recorded on Biševo island. The island boasts 43 plant species that belong to various categories of endangered species, 88 protected plant species and seven endemic species. Although to a lesser extent, Biševo vegetation is also represented by the cultivated scenery, mostly covered in vineyards, which once dominated the island.

Considering that Biševo is known as a home to 16 species of nesting birds and that the island is an important stopover for migrating birds during their spring and autumn migrations, you can find out more about them in the Centre, as well as learn about two species of lizards and snakes that inhabit the island.

The permanent exhibition of the Visitor Centre Modra špilja – Biševo provides an overview of the following sections:

The genesis of the island
The blue world – sea caves
Bird migration
Cultural heritage and memories
The island biodiversity

Considering that the Visitor Centre is located in the former school, the visitors can see the original school benches with the corresponding everyday objects such as slates, sponges and chalks, inkpots etc.

Upon entering the Centre, there is a wide-screen where visitors can watch a documentary on the Blue Cave, as well as two monitors displaying brief video- or photo- based programmes about the dolphins and the seabed. Besides that, listen to birdsong of all sea birds including the “night mourning” of the Scopoli’s shearwater, the Diomedes’ bird.

Entering the interpretation hall on the first floor, visitors walk through the display of the trans-Adriatic migration route of the migratory birds migrating in the autumn from Central Europe via Vis and Palagruža to Monte Gargano and further on to Africa to spend the winter there. Next are the birds that spend the winter on the island, and in the end the visitors get information about the most important bird of the island, Eleonora’s falcon. They spend winter on Madagascar.

Entering the enclosed inner space, visitors are positioned as to have a bird’s-eye view and by a video projection they have the opportunity to visit some of the most important locations of the island, listening to stories of people still living on the island, as well as sounds of local birds and insects.

While browsing the exhibits, visitors can check their knowledge on the monitors with questions related to natural and cultural heritage.

Visitors can also find out about the perils related to wildfires and learn how to behave on islands.

It important to point out the praiseworthy role of the permanent exhibition of the Visitor Centre Modra špilja – Biševo, which will allow the visitors to gain insight into the real biodiversity of the island, because during the hot and dry months of the main tourist season they can not attest to it at the location. Thus we most certainly recommend the visitors to visit Biševo and the Visitor Centre out of the summer season!