Korčula tourist information.
These Croatian islands, the sixth largest in the Adriatic Sea, can be reached in several ways. The town of Korčula is situated on the north-eastern end of the island, built along its jagged coast. It consists of the old town on a small oval peninsula, the Baroque suburbs under the walls and new parts spreader to the east and west of the old core.
Home to some of Croatia’s most picturesque beaches, the island of Korcula sits just off the coast of the mainland, surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Adriatic, and is a paradise for beach lovers and culture vultures alike.
Sunbathing, swimming and a range of aquatic pursuits such as kayaking and fishing are all popular here, although it’s well worth travelling further inland to explore the town’s history and heritage. This is something that will immediately jump out at you as you approach the island from the sea, as the ancient city walls which once provided a vital defensive barrier still stand imposingly around the Old Town.
Old town of Korčula
Immediately behind the south gate tower in the southern Great Revelin defense walls, there is a small square,with the town hall, the Prince’s Palace and the church of St. Michael, connected with th main street to the central square of Saint Mark- the center of social and religious life of this medival city. On the central square today are the cathedral, treasury Opatska, Municipal Museum, Palace Arneri, Church of the Assumption, and a flag pole forom the 16th century, for which it was believed that he was a”shame”column. Along the main street, which extends from south to north, there are many, mostly commercial-catering facilities: souvenir shops, taverns, jewelry, art … As to the basis of the old town formed in the shape of ’fish-bone’, all the other side street with both parties (the west and east) merged with the main axle from the coast, to the top of the hill on which the square of St. Mark. is placed Also, they are all paved, and except one, and all are graded, and most bear the names of the prominent families that lived in them. Today, almost all front house in the old center are decorated with emblems adorn Korčulainc aristocracy, bishops and dukes. The most beautiful examples of architecture and housing have appeared during the 15th and 16 century in the typical Gothic-Renaissance style. Korčula is built by local masters of the great stone limestone which is abundant in the entire archipelago of the surrounding smaller islands. Used by the Romans for raising more of Diocletian’s Palace in Split, and later Dubrovnik, the famous Korčula masons supplied it to the cities of Croatia, Montenegro and the Italian Adriatic coast. Today in the Korčula stone processing, mainly dealing with individuals and more mechanically, but manually, while the majority of abandoned quarries. One craft slowly becomes th past the city, the master stone-mason-almost a rare phenomenon, and the old hammer and chisel to except that be foun in every Korčula house, can be found only in the City Museum.
For Korčula they say it is a showcase of European culture, where are today visible traces of Illyrians, Greeks, Romans… and it was ruled by the Venetian princes, and Hungary, French, Russians, Britishes … Korčulan people often say that they sometimes forget in what kind of city they are living, until they became remained by the many tourists who are delighted with those what do they see, again from year to year to visit this island.Traditional Summer events starts marking “half of New Year,” June 30, when you walk the streets of the old town with the locals and their guests covered with traditional masks. But the biggest holiday is a day that celebrates the city July 30 which in fact is the day of Saint Todor cooprotector of City of Korčula, whose cult is very important and besides he is being a patron and protector of the city Cathedral Sveti Marko. Startng from 18 century, when relics of Saint Todor were transported from Rome, they are now placed in the silver sarcophagus under the ciborium in the famous cathedral, and on the every July 30 they are carried along the entire city in a large procession.
Residents are proud of Korčula and the fact that the Statute, which comes from the 13th century, is considered as one of the oldest Slavic legal documents. Two of this handwriting copies of the parchment are still saved, from the 14th century in Venice, and the other from the 15th in the collection of family Kapor in Korčula.
Marko Polo
Encouraged the fact that the ancestors of Marco Polo lived somewhere some time in Dalmatia, but also with the fact that the surname Depolo is still present in the island of Korčula it is believed to belong to many of the famous mariners and travelers, and that except for data on year of birth (1254th) do not know almost nothing more about the early period of his life, it was enough to Korčula’s people to accept famous Marco Polo as their former fellow citizen. For the island where tourism is the main economic activity, this whole story is raised to the level of attraction, and is almost unthinkable to speak of Korčula, not to mention that this is the birthplace of Marco Polo. One of the hotels carries his name as well as travel agency, taverns, music festival, while in the old town, near the cathedral, late gothic quadric tower and opened as the Renaissance box that houses the remains are believed to belonged to Marco Polo. Almost no Korčula people will not forget to remind you of that fact, as no tourists will miss that in your photo album and include a picture of this building which offers excellent view of the Peljesac Channel.