|
 The
Island and Town of Korcula
The island of Korcula
is one of the biggest and most populated island of Dalmatia, the Mediterranean
region situated in the Adriatic sea. It is the southernmost island of
the Adriatic Middle-Dalmatian islands, and as so is the whole region
part of the State territory of the Republic of Croatia. It has a surface
of 276 square km, is 46,8 km long with the wides part being 7,8 km.
The east side of the island is only 1270 m far from the land and peninsula
Pelješac, whilst the west side ranges deeply into the Adriatic Sea.
Along its shore there are 50 smaller islets. The island is built from
lime-stone with its highest peak of 568 m (Klupca). The majority of
inhabitants live off tourism and agriculture (vines, olive-trees, vegetables
and citrus fruits). A minor part makes a living by sailing around the
seas of the world (maritime and shipbuilding are traditions of the whole
region and by other activites.
The town of Korcula,
situated on the eastern border of the island, is a architectural example
of an excellently preserved, founded, medieval, magnificent town. It
is build on an islet of 3 hectares, later linked with the land of the
island. Currently it counts around 1.500 inhabitants, whose main economic
orientation is tourism (around 3000 sunny hours per year).
History
The island of
Korcula has been continously inhabited since prehistory since the
times of palaeolithic. The Great Cave testifies to this, a preserved
archaelogical finding on the south-western side of the island. The
current results of excavations lead us to the life of Korcula's Homo
Sapiens to a time of even 20.000 years B.C.. Excavations are continued.
Korcula has been
mentioned in written works by many old authors:
- "Periplus" (skylak from Karijande) - journey description
from IV century B.C.
- "Perigeses"(Pseudo Skimnos) - II century B.C.
- Strabon - year 180 B.C.
- Livije - year 57-17 B.C.
- Plinije Secundo - year 23-29.
- Apian - II century.
- Klaudije Ptolomej (geographical map) - II century.
- "De administrando imperio" (Constatin Porfirogenet) -
year 948-952.
- Ivan Đakon - year 1000.
- "Le vite da i dogi..." (Marin Sanudo) - year 1010.
- "Cronicon anonymum marcianum" - XIV century, etc.
The Statute of
Korcula (year 1214) is one of the oldest European Statutes
BACK
Architecture
Eventhough fortified, the Town had been throughout history
built, destroyed and renewed, so it is hard to speak about the exact
time of its establishment. Its oldest parts today were built in the
early middle-age. The Town is built in the shape of a heart, its narrow
side streets from two sides, in a fish-bone pattern, are linked vertically
to the longitudinal centre one. The streets are differentiated according
to the width and profile of their connection to the centre (about 2
m on average) and the residential blocks between the streets are from
11 to 16 metres. The buildings and palaces get fresh water by collecting
rain from the rooves and storing the same in their own reservoirs. The
Town was once fully surrounded with a high defensive wall with towers,
and for a long time in its history it was connected with the island
land by a movable bridge. It has two entrances, one from the southern
side (Land Gate) and the other from the western side (Sea Gate). Within
the Town there are 9 churches with the cathedral of St. Mark on the
centre square.
BACK
Remarkablenesses
Marco
Polo
According to the
legend and according to many historical semi-proofs (medieval documents:
one Venetian and one doucment from Korcula archives) and according to
unique continuation of the surname (variants: Polo, Depolo, Dupolo)
the Town of Korcula is rightfully considered to be the birth Town of
the greatest world traveller. Also, because of common appearances of
male names such as Marco, Nicholas and Matthew (his father and uncle),
and also because of the fact that the already aged Marco beneath the
Town of Korcula (07.09.1298) under the Venetian flag, with his own big
galley and paid crew, entered into a battle against the armada of Genova
for supremacy over the sea and Korcula itself.
Because of all abovementioned, the newest "Encyclopedia Britannica"
itself contains such information. The birth house of Marco Polo is situated
in the Centre of the Old Town, to the north from St. Mark's cathedral.
Brotherhoods
Also, one of the
historical remarkablenesses of the Town of Korcula are certainly the
3 brotherhoods (All Saints - "Sasvetani", St. Rocco - "Rokovci",
and St. Mihovil - "Mihovilci") of which the All Saints is
the oldest, established 08.09.1301. The people of Korcula, members of
the brotherhoods come to Town on the annual gathering day. Many of them
that day come from other continents. By procession through the Town
streets, in old uniforms, carrying big candles and crusifices, they
tradionally celebrate their gathering and the Day of their Patron.
During the time of Napolean, the French army during its rule over Korcula
abolished "Rokovce" and "Mihovilce", and only allowed
the continuity of "Sasvetani". The reason was that these back
then, according to their codex, took care for the burial of the dead
free of charge.
 Moreška
A traditional sword
dance once spread on the Mediterranean, has only been retained in the
Town of Korcula. The people of Korcula have been dancing Moreška for
full 400 years and with its performance around the world they fittingly
represent their Town. The dance consists of a display of a war fight
with swords between two armies of whose kings have waged war to each
other by reason of love of a beautiful girl (so-called "Bula"),
who the "black" king had snatched away from the "red"
king. Exceptionally strong and impressive dance-war parts of this play
with swords are performed with accompanying original orchestral music
, specially written for this play of Mauri origins.
KPK
"Korcula Swimming
Club" - is the name of the town's waterpolo team which has been
existing for fifty years and which gathers in its ranks young swimmers
of Korcula. Now long ago, in 1978, KPK was the champion of the Cup of
the Winners of the Cups in Europe. The club has within it a swimming
section, from which Andro Depolo originates, the former European champion
in butterfly style.
BACK
Population
Before
the war in the areas of former Yugoslavia, the island of Korcula was
the most populated island in the Adriatic. Due to migration of the population
caused by war, now it is the second most populated, just after Krk,
with cca 18.000 inhabitants.
BACK
Connection
with land
- vessels
- fast-ferries
- ferries
- buses
In direct vicinity
of the Town there is a heliport and in the centre of the island there
is a deforested and flattened terrain for building an airport runway.
Means for its building are not defined in full as yet.
BACK
Service
possibilities
Medical service
- Health Home
Medical establishment specialised in baths "Kalos"
Postal service
Computer services
Services for technical examination of vehicles
Rent-a-car
Rent-a-boat
BACK
|
