Jelsa is a small town and port on the northern coast of the island Hvar. East from the Jelsa is the sand cove Mina. The swimming beach Soline is located on the small peninsula Glavica.
Jelsa was mentioned in the 14th century as the port Pitava (Portus de Pitue), and it was probably formed as the fishermen settlement in the 15th century. The parish church that has already been mentioned in 1331 got its present shape with fortified apse in the 16th century.
In the northern part of Jelsa, there is a square with renaissance and baroque houses. On the square there is also the baroque church of St. Ivan. On the hill above the village you can see well preserved remains of the antique watch-tower Tor, built of megalithic stone blocks and dated in the 4th-3rd century B.C. The remains of Roman walls and graves were found in the surroundings.