Journey Through Stone

An interpretive experiential program that takes visitors into the heart of Brač’s stonemasonry heritage through the authentic workshop of an active master stonemason. Instead of a traditional guided tour, participants become part of the island’s living heritage through storytelling, the touch of stone, and hands-on work with tools.

The program combines storytelling, traditional stone carving, and contemporary cultural tourism through the experience “Become a Stonemason for a Day.” Visitors discover the history of Brač stone, the stone-carving process, and the symbolism of a craft that sustained the island for centuries, while also having the opportunity to create their own stone souvenir to take home as a personal memory of the experience.

Journey Through Stone was created from a desire to preserve and reinterpret Brač’s stonemasonry heritage through active participation, emotion, and authentic connection with the space, the people, and the material itself. The project has received multiple awards for innovation in cultural and rural tourism and represents an example of how a traditional craft can be transformed into a contemporary experiential product that educates, connects, and leaves a lasting impression.

PROGRAM CONTENT

• Introductory interpretive storytelling about the island of Brač, Brač stone, and the history of stonemasonry
• Introduction to both traditional and contemporary stone carving tools
• Demonstration of the creation process – from a raw stone block to a finished product
• Storytelling about the life of stonemasons, quarries, and the importance of stone in the island’s identity
• Interactive hands-on experience where participants carve and shape their own stone souvenir
• Opportunity to experience and photograph an authentic working stone workshop
• Conversation about preserving cultural heritage and passing traditional skills to future generations
• Possibility to adapt the program for groups, children, schools, and organized tours
• Final part of the experience where participants take home their own handmade stone piece as a memory of Brač