Korčula is an island in the South Dalmatian Archipelago known as the historical and tourist centre. It is also famous as the birth-place of Marko Polo- famous traveller over the world.
Due to picturesque landscapes with hundreds of different sorts of aromatic Mediterranean plants and long beaches with many secret coves, Korcula is the place ideal for holiday and resting throught all year.
The island of Korcula has a long tradition in tourism. The most important towns which stretch along the coastline are Korcula, Lumbarda, Vela Luka and some places in inner are Zrnovo, Pupnat, Cara, Smokvica, Blato...
These places are characterized with beautiful landscape covered in coniferous forests, medicinal herbs and many flowers. The population of this medieval island are occupied mostly with fishing, cultivating vineyards, olive trees, orange trees, fig trees, almond trees so if you choose Korcula for vacation you will enjoy in their specialities and their hospitality as well.
This beautiful island is the most well-preserved medieval island in Croatia that has a rich cultural offer and has a good opportunity for spending free time very quality. The most famous on the island is Moreška-dancing game that takes place on the streets of Korčula and presents a historical moment when Korculan's defended themselves from Turks.
Korcula has numeruos small island, islets, coves and the main town is also famous as a harbour with two swimming beaches which are ideal places to have fun and enjoy in the sun.
All these reasons are more than enough to call Korcula holiday heaven.
First ingabitnts of the island were Illyrians and after them Romans. The reign of Venice, Austria, France and the Republic of Dubrovnik has rotated here. After the World War II Korčula was, like other parts of Croatia, a part of Yugolavia, and after the Croatian War for Independece became a teritory of Croatia.
The settlements on the island are:
1. Lumbarda is a beautiful settlement with sandy and pebbly beaches, a marine, hotels, apartments. Here are placed an ancient churches of St. Rok, St. Bartul, St. Petar, St. Cross...
2. Žrnovo is a settlement that is mentioned in the early middle-ages. You can find here an old houses made of stone with yards and barns. Here are also an ancient villas of aristocracy.
3. Near Račišće are 4 bays - Medvidnjak, Banja, Vrbovica and Knez that are popular for their beaches, camps and apartments. Račišće is also placed in a bay and it was established in 17th century. Its inhabitants pursued with fishing, cattle breeding, farming and maritime. Church of the Holly Virgin was built in 17th century and today's parish church of St. Nikola was built at the end of 19th century.
4. Pupnat has two old churches and one of them is the church of St. Juraj from 15th century. Its inhabitants live from farming and cattle breeding and also from tourism and architecture.
5. Čara is a settlement of wineyards. There is a wine basement in Čara and in the center of it is placed a church of St. Peter from 15th century. Like in other settlements of Korčula, here can also be found the remains of old villas.
6. In Smokvica is placed a big Neo Romanic church built in 20th century on the place of an elder church, and beside it is placed a Baroque lodge surrounded with pillars.
7. Blato is a settlement built in amphitheater shape on few hills that surround a valley.
8. Vela Luka is the biggest settlement on the island that developed in 19th century and it is placed in a bay. Chappel of St. Vicenzo was built in 16th century that keeps rich cultural haritage.
In Lumbarda is acting a cultural group Ivo Lozica that tends music, singing, folklore and dramic amateruism. In Žrnovo is active a cultural-artisitic
groups Misnice and "Bratska sloga" are tending dramic amateurism and local tradition. There are other cultural groups on Korčula. There is also a gallery Vapor in Blato. On the island you can find the Festival of Knight games and a Music Summer Festival that is combination of all kinds of music: afro, latino, mediterranean, ethno, reggae, house, jazz, drum'n'bass.
Korčula has a city museum that keeps a collections that testify about history and an old culture.
"Dnodna" is a funky bar in the town Korčula. Tramonto Cocktail Bar is also placed in town Korčula. "Dos Locos" is a bar for youth that want fun.
You can go swimming, diving, sailing, windsurfing, cycling, or you can play tennis, volleyball, football...
You can come from any part of Europe by personal vehicle or by bus and from any part of the world by plane to Split since there is also an airport and from there you can reach Korčula with ferry or with catamaran.
