By its very nature Vrboska is an exercise in gentle serenity. However, its most notable building takes an altogether different approach, one born out of necessity rather than artistic desires. The Fortified Church of St Mary is the largest building in town by some way, and its defensive aesthetics came about a century or so after it was constructed at the start of the 15th century. The Ottomans did a number on it, leading the people of Vrboska to take matters into their own hands, evolving the church into a fortress. Venetian engineers were brought in to lead the developments, and that undeniable elegance is on show in the relative serenity of the 21st century. Little has changed since it was fortified, making this one of the most faithfully preserved fortified structures on the island, if not in the entire region. A bust of Vrboska-born Rajmund Kupareo stands outside the church, a mark of respect to a 20th-century priest and writer who published works in various languages.