Slavic myths & legends mixed with the histories of people migration & of Brac island itself, religious "takeovers," and modern-day informed speculations/ knowledge shared by ethnologists, linguists & art historians. This is what you get when you visit the Dragon Cave with Zoran, "The Guide." I don't think I've received a better guided tour by anyone anywhere in the world. He is a Croatian national treasure, having accumulated so much knowledge over the 23 years (since 2000) he's been conducting tours of the Dragon Cave. Zoran popularizes what the more obscure branches of academic study so much, that those scholars embrace him for his storytelling. And we, the tourists, are enriched by it.

The weaver of tales made the Dragon Cave come alive in our imagination. The climb itself consists of 20% - 30% grade hills (the way up) in places that are, thankfully, not terribly long. The way down is longer and easier grade, on which you see wine grapes literally grown on hills so steep you wonder how they harvest them! Sturdy shoes (hiking boots are helpful, as sneakers would barely cut it) and bottles of water are essential, or you risk, well, health & safety! I found it necessary to use my hiking stick on the way down, for balance and my knees. Food too.

The views are beautiful, To be able to see far out beyond the Brac shores to Hvar & other islands. Our day was mostly cloudy, so we didn't get to see the brilliant colors of the Adriatic (the sea was navy blue, not green or aqua blue as we've seen on sunnier days). But the tradeoff was a not intensely hot climb.

The point of this visit, though, is primarily in the telling of tales. You'd be remiss not to pay the €12 pp (unless your group is too small, in which case Zoran asks for more - our family of 4 paid €20 pp for a last-minute, custom tour) to come all the way out here and miss the stories behind what's up there on the walls. And believe me, there are layers upon layers of history & stories that you'll want to hear.