TOWN OF KORCULA

The town is situated on the northeast side of the island, and was built on a small peninsula protruding into Peljesac Channel. The town is surrounded by walls and towers. According to the strict rules of medieval town planning the capital grid is in the form of fish bones and is fully preserved until this day. The main interests of Korcula’s artisans were that of stone cutting and ship building. That is how the stone-masters of the island turned into a beautiful polished stone gem. Although today we do not know the exact time when the town was developed on founded it is first mentioned in the 10th century. It then soon turns into a developed urban environment as evidenced by the Statute of the town and island of Korcula from 1214. This legal act is one of the oldest in this part of Europe, and the first code in the world that abolishes slavery. On several occasions, Korcula was under Venetian rule, and the influences of the Venetian Republic greatly contributed to the development of the town. Korcula is the hometown of Marco Polo, the world famous travel writer.

One of the peculiarities of the town is Moreska. Since played in numerous cities and towns of the Mediterranean, only in Korcula they have managed to preserve this dance that has been played for 500 years. Next to the cathedral of St. Mark is the Bishop’s House with Abbey Treasury, famous for the works of Dalmatian and Venetian artists. Opposite the cathedral is the Renaissance palace Gabriellis which today houses the Town Museum. It pays to visit the Church of All Saints, built in 1301. and later partly revamped in the baroque style, and belongs to the oldest fraternity on the island, still active.

Korcula is one of the best preserved medieval towns in the world, and because of its location, and certainly one of the most beautiful, and certainly it is worth a visit.

Numerous restaurants, souvenir shops, excursions to nearby islands and different choice and offer of additional facilities have turned Korcula to tourism and providing travellers with quality hosting.