Visit Korčula- Korčula Tourist Board
While the island of Korčula is a mosaic of natural and cultural heritage, the jewel in its crown is undeniably the town of Korčula. The other island places and villages of Žrnovo, Lumbarda, Račišće, Pupnat, Čara, Smokvica, Blato and Vela Luka are also rich in historic tradition and natural beauty. When the ancient Greeks saw the black contours of the island, framed by dense forests of holm oak and pine, they called it "Black Corfu" (Greek Korkyra Melaina; Latin Korkyra Nigra). A legend suggests that Korčula was discovered and founded by the Greek hero Antenor escaping from Troy. The old town of Korčula is one of the best examples of a fortified medieval town in the Mediterranean. The world's greatest 13th century traveller, Marco Polo, who was a native of Korčula, opened the door of the Far East to Europe, while in service at the court of Kublai Khan.
Korčula’s history has notable milestones, starting with the Psephism (Lumbarda decree, 4th century B.C.), the oldest inscribed stone fragment in this part of Europe, through to the Statute of the town and island of Korčula of 1214 recording the organization and continuity of 800 years of civic society. There are three brotherhoods (society of laymen) dating from 1301, the Cathedral of St. Mark and numerous churches, palazzos, mansions, and streets built to an urban plan along an architectural form of a fish bone. Residents within the walls of the old town live in “an open-air museum’’, where the following venues are open to visitors: St. Mark’s Cathedral, Abbatial Treasury, Town Museum, House of Marco Polo, Icon collection in the House of the Brotherhood of All Saints, and Revelin Tower.
Photo by Andrija Carli
www.visitkorcula.eu
