StoneMasonry School - Pucisca Island Brac

The stonemasonry school in Pucisca on the Island of Brac recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is a unique educational institution, not only in Croatia, but in this part of Europe, representing an attraction for tourists as well. On the occasion of celebrating the anniversary, a book about the school was published. 50 copies were bound in unique stone covers. Though the school itself was founded in 1909, the education of stonemasons on Brac began in 1906 because of the great need for the development of stone masonry.
In Pucisca and Selca, courses were organized in collaboration with a trade school in Split. After the course, students would pass their exams in stone masonry. Preserving the tradition of the trade, many generations of superior craftsmen were educated at this school. In their work, one could always recognize the signature style of the school. The history of the Pucisca stone masonry school is intertwined with the history and tradition of the Brac stone, embedded in many great buildings.
Learning how to cut the Brac stone, the students even use toothed tools that were used by the Romans. Each year, the school enrolls one hundred students from all parts of the country. Around 10 thousand tourists visit it every year, proving it is not merely an educational, but a tourist facility as well. The students of the Pučišća stone masonry school have taken part in some of the world’s biggest tourism fairs, demonstrating the skills of their craft before numerous audiences. They even got a private audience with Pope John Paul II. For its great contribution to the development of Croatian tourism, the Croatian National Tourist Association has awarded the school with the greatest tourism award, “Anton Štifanić”, in 2004.
Brac stone was used to build white limestone columns of the White House in Washington DC, Diocletian palace in Split, foundations of many buildings in Venice, and many more famous buildings are built with it.

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