Visiting the house of Marco Polo
by Venturingnow
Korcula was once home to the famous explorer Marco Polo, also the founder of that popular childhood game, just kidding. His house is sad, and the sign is a better landmark than it itself. Nevertheless, it's still worth checking out, if you please.
Korcula - Home of Marco Polo
by paulcantlon
The birthplace of Marco Polo, Korcula is a hospitable town of red roofs and round towers. (The town is located on an island also named Korcula.) Jutting into the sea, surrounded by the remains of a medieval wall, it resembles a miniature Dubrovnik. The compact town center reflects the region's Venetian heritage, with Cathedral Square providing the best atmosphere in the city.
The city has a number of celebrations and religious processions during the year, including the colorful festival of sword dances (Viteske igre or "Nights' Games"). Be sure to take home a bottle of the fine olive oil or wine produced in local groves and vineyards. And listen carefully to the local speech: The Korculans speak a melodious dialect with elements of Greek and Italian.
Korcula makes an excellent base for day trips to places like Mljet and other islands of the Elaphite group (southeast of Korcula Island). Mljet is the largest and prettiest island in the area. It has a beauty that is hard to describe without being redundant: In the middle of this forest-covered island is a beautiful blue lake, and in the middle of this lake is a small island, which holds a small 12th-century Benedictine monastery