Korcula Island: Croatia’s Mini-Dubrovnik & Prehistoric Cave
Not far from Dubrovnik, Korcula was a strategic outpost fortified by the Venetian Republic, and today is one of the best-preserved medieval island towns in the Mediterranean. Tourists enjoy its old town as a quieter, smaller version of Dubrovnik, along clear- blue water with palm-lined streets, wonderful restaurants, and beaches. Embark on an enchanting journey with Haswell Travelled's Korcula YouTube video, immersing yourself in a virtual visit to this historic island.
Korcula was founded by ancient Greeks in the 6th century BC, and later became part of the Roman Empire. The fortifications we see today was built in the 13th century by the medieval maritime republic of Venice. During that time, Venice took control of Korcula for its strategic central location in the Adriatic Sea. This spot was perfect, allowing them to build defensive walls, towers, and gates to completely encircle and fortify the peninsula. The fish-bone street layout was designed to catch the breeze, but protect against strong winds.
From June through Sep, Korcula holds a traditional Moreska sword dance performance with costumes and live music every Thursday evening, with an extra performance on Mondays in July & August. Museum lovers may enjoy Korcula’s Town Museum housed in an old mansion. Displays include ancient Greek artifacts, renaissance carvings, sculptures, ship-building artifacts, art, and period-furnished rooms. Many historians believe Marco Polo was born in Venice, but Korcula claims this to be his birthplace, even though there is no direct evidence. The Marco Polo Center was recently renovated with informative displays on Marco Polo.
Vela Luka, on the western end of the island, was settled in the early 19th century, so it has a more modern look compared to Korcula’s Old Town. Its deep, wide bay has a large harbourfront lined with shops and restaurants, and its surrounding hills have vineyards, olive groves, fig trees and pine trees.
Situated up on a hill with a fabulous vantage point over Vela Luka below, is a cavern that has been occupied since the last ice age. Although there is not a lot to see in the small cave, it quite stunning with two natural openings in the roof, and houses one of Europe’s most important prehistoric sites. Early humans lived in here over thousands of years, with various artifacts buried in dozens of layers, with each depth representing a historical time frame.
The oldest artifacts are from 20,000 BC at the end of the last ice age. Clay figurines of animals where found, and amazingly, are 10,000 years older than any clay objects found in the rest of Europe. In another layer dated back 10,000 years, well-preserved skeletons of a man and three children were found. Artifacts from the cave can be found on display at Vela Luka Cultural Center in town, which has recently been closed for renovations.
Immerse yourself in the captivating episode of Korcula on the Haswell Travelled YouTube channel. The video is also easily accessible via the website’s Croatia & Slovenia web page, allowing viewers to explore this enchanting content alongside other fabulous destinations.
