The name of this tiny archipelago (about twenty islets right opposite the town of Hvar) which extends undulating along the south side of Hvar comes from the word "paklina"
(melted pine resin for 'rasping' boat plating).
This archipelago is the most beautiful part of the Hvar riviera.

Palmižana, an exceptional by good shelter for boats, is situated on Veliki otok (Big Island).
In the bay of Vinogradišće the family of the botanist Eugen Meneghello began to build summer houses and also to plant trees. Nowadays, it is a veritable arboretum with tourist facilities. The island is also called St Clement because of the church devoted to this protector of sea-men. It was restored in memory of the battle of Vis (1866) and the sinking of the frigate "Radetzky" (in 1869) with 325 young men on board, mostly Croats, 5 miles away from the island of Veli Vodnjak. Prehistoric stone tumuli suggest the possible use of the island as a burial site.

The remains of Roman houses can be found in the bay of Velo polje, where the Dominicans had a hospice in the 16th century, as well as in the area of Zdrilac on the islet of Marinkovac, previously the island of St Stephen, although the remains of the church have not been found. The Franciscans owned the islet of St Jerome (originally Rasohatac, from rasohe = forks). During the Middle Ages, salt was picked up there; and there also was much cattle pasturing on the island.