Korcula Things to Do

4 more images

My favourite place on the island has to be the quaint fishing village of Racisce. It's a small place but in a picture perfect setting, with a few secluded bays in walking distance. Spend some time wandering around the village, visit the two local churches, chat with the locals and then take a walk to the bays of Samograd or Vaja, about 15-20minutes from the centre. Both are white pebbled beaches with azure blue sea, the latter being quite a scramble down to. After spending time swimming and snorkelling, pop into one of the local restaurants or bars for some home cooked, local food, for example try Konoba Vala. The best way to visit Racisce is by bike. The terrain is fairly flat and you get some great views along the coastal road.

2 more images

After a 25 minute walk from Žrnovo, above and beyond the hamlet of Brdo, you will find yourself in a setting quite mystical with tight paths running through huge boulders adorned with moss and trees. This fascinating natural beauty site of Kocje is one of Croatia's Protected Landscapes. This offers a wonderful walk through, over and around magical rock formations that truly arouse the imagination – great fun for the kids (and the big kids!). Think Lord of the Rings! You also get some lovely views of the Peljesac channel walking along the hill path to Kocje from Brdo. There are also a number of routes you can follow from Korèula old town, for example via Zrnovska Banja. You can then follow the signpost to Kocje.
There are no places to get refreshments between Zrnovo and Kocje so be sure to take water. On your return there is a Konoba serving traditional food on the left just as you pass the signpost for Koèje, called Belin, where you can stop for lunch or refreshments after your walk.
I love it here, it's very peaceful and it's fun to scramble above and under the huge boulders.

The Dalmatian coast of Croatia is made up of hundreds of islands. Lying just off the coast between Korèula old town and Lumbarda are 20 of these. This groups of small islets is collective known as the Škoji Islands. You can visit many of these islets in the Korèula archipelago. For a good day trip, pack your towel and swimming costume and take a water taxi from the old town to Badija, Vrnik or Stupe (or hop between them). Alternatively join a kayaking trip and paddle your way around, or join one of the fish picnic tours where island viewing and eating is combined!

1 more image

Differently from other places in Croatia, here the history seems to have passed without big conflicts. The great influence is from Venice, and we saw no mixed styles, no signs of making and remaking that impressed me in Zadar and Split, for instance.

The place evokes tranquility and calm.

1 more image

One of the highlights of the island is the house were Marco Polo seems to have lived. For the moment it is only a ruin, with the recuperation works disturbed by the flocks of tourists that constantly invade the place.

Nothing in particular to see, just a detail in the walk across the small city.

3 more images

Dominating the old town, this church from the XVI century, with gothic and renaissance elements, hosts works from Tintoretto and Bonino da Milano.

One interesting detail is the Saint-Roch chapel, built one century after the church but very well integrated.

1 more image

The human figures that hold the lions are Eve, on the left and Adam on the right. They are naked, which makes sense but on most if not all religious representations of Adam and Eve, their private parts are more or less hidden. Not so here! Not only is it a full frontal representation that does not hide anything of their anatomy but the way they are sitting down on one’s heels and above a hole arises the question: what are they doing besides holding the corbel! The answer seemed pretty obvious to me but I cannot write it here!

They were carved by Master Bonino da Malino, a famous sculptor from Milan, that made also carvings for the cathedral of Šibenik.

Photo 1. Eve.

Photo 2. Adam

I have received from Larry the following comment that I paste here:
travelgourmet Mon Dec 7, 2009 20:14 CET
Jean-Louis, Adam and Eve have constipated looks on their faces. Maybe they represent locations for the restrooms. lol.
Thank you Larry for your commitment to the subject! You might have solved the mystery!

2 more images

The city wall was mostly built in the XIVth and partly put down in 1875. It has eight remaining defense towers. Most are standing, one has only the basement left. To make things more complicated, most of them have several names. Depending on what document you read, you might feel they are different while this is the same. Some documents have not been thoroughly checked and mention the same tower several times, under different names. I have tried to make it clear but if I am mistaking, feel free to correct me.

From west, clockwise :
Velika kneževa Kula,
Mala kneževa Kula,
Kula Morska Vrata,
Kula Kanalević or Balbi Tower
Kula Zakerjan or Bokar Tower or Barbarigo tower or St Barbara tower.
Kula Svih Svetih (basement) or Capello tower,
Mali Revlin,
Veliki Revlin.

Photo 1. Massive Velika kneževa kula (Large Knight’s Tower) is the most impressive of the towers of Korcula city wall. It stands at the end of Obala dr. Franje Tuđmana. In the back ground Mala kneževa kula (Small Knight’s Tower)

Photo 2. Obala dr. Franje Tuđmana (Franje Tudjman Avenue) with Velika kneževa kula in the background. The photo was taken in front of Hotel Korčula.

Photo 3. A 1990 photo of what is now named Obala dr. Franje Tuđmana, with Kula Kanalević on the left (see following tip), Kula Morska Vrata in the middle (not easy to identify) and on top St Mark Cathedral.