Voting has opened today in the race for the title of European Best Destination 2017.

One Croatian destination is in the running. The stunning town of Stari Grad on the Dalmatian island of Hvar, which last year is celebrated ts 2,400th anniversary of its foundation, is one of the nominations this year.

Every year leading travel portal European Best Destinations organises the election of the best destination in Europe based on online voting from travellers and from 20 January 2017 to 10 February 2017 Stari Grad will battle it out for the title with 19 other destinations, including the likes of Vienna, London, Milan, Athens, San Sebastian, Porto, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonifacio, Sozopol and Rome.

“Stari Grad is a gorgeous destination, one of the jewels of tourism in Croatia. Croatia is probably one of the European countries where it is the hardest to make a selection as you have tens of beautiful destinations that have all the ingredients to be selected and awarded of this European recognition”, European Destinations told Croatia Week.

The heritage of Stari Grad has been preserved since the Age of Antiquity and has been recognized by UNESCO which in 2008 inscribed the Stari Grad Plain on the World Heritage List.

The city was founded on the western part of the plain by the Greeks who sailed from the island of Paros in 384 B. C. and who found a perfect place for a new life at the end of the long bay, with a fertile field and springs of drinking water lying behind it. Today Stari Grad is a popular tourist destination in Croatia.

Last year some big names got behind Zadar tourist board’s campaign to help secure the title of Best European Destination 2016, including Real Madrid star and Zadar’s own Luka Modrić who asked his fans on social media to support his hometown.

You can cast your vote for Stari Grad here.