The island of Korcula is located 25 nautical miles to the east from the island of Vis. We recommend that you visit this beautiful island and explore its rich cultural, historical and natural heritage, which has been preserved in all it’s beauty and richness. Even though Vis and Korcula are neighbouring islands, there are no direct ferry connections that connect these unique and beautiful islands – you will need to go through the port of Split, or Hvar to get to Korcula from Vis. There are daily boat excursions organised from the island of Vis to the island of Korcula, so we can also recommend this option.
The beautiful, green island of Korcula with the size of 276 square kilometres is the 6th biggest island of the Adriatic sea. It stretches parallel with the coast, for 47 kilometres and with width ranging just between 5 and 8 kilometres. The southern coast of the island is oriented towards the horizons of the open seas and the archipelago of Lastovo and its northern coast overlooks the peninsula of Peljesac and the island of Hvar. On the northern shores one can find many nice and well protected bays, which are safe harbours from southern and eastern winds. The southern shore of the island of Korcula is more indented and steeper and also adorned with beautiful islets and cliffs. The largest and the best protected bay on the island of Korcula is the bay of Vela Luka, where "Vela Spila", the Neolithic archaeological site is located, on the western tip of the island of Korcula, and closest to the island of Vis. The island of Korcula, since the beginning of history, was known as a green island, mainly because of the lush vegetation of ever-green Aleppo pine, bearberry, edelweiss, macchia and also cultivated plantations of grape wine, olive trees and citrus.
Korcula is a famous wine growing region, with most popular and renown sorts being: "Grk", "Posip", "Rukatac" (sorts of white wine). Since Dalmatia is best know for it’s red wines, there are also well-known red wines produced on the island of Korcula, "Pagadebit" and "Babic", only recently introduces to the island of Korcula. Thanks to it’s warm Mediterranean climate and unique micro-climate, the island of Korcula is one of the best places in Croatia for olive growing, mainly varieties named "Lastovka", "Drobnica" and "Orgula". Olive oil, wine, locally grown vegetables, sea food with traces of meat (mainly lamb) make the basis of Korcula gastronomy, which still has some illyric and antic dishes on it’s menus.
The town of Korcula is an ancient, walled town, built on a peninsula with unusual pattern of narrow streets which resembles a fishbone. There are 8 remaining towers surrounding the town that boasts with more than 100 years of organised tourism. Today, Korcula town is one of the most popular destinations in Croatia, which offers rich and unique gastronomic, historical and cultural experience of the Mediterranean as it once was. The birth house of Marko Polo, the world’s first explorer and world traveller, who according to some sources was born in Korcula, is situated in the town Korcula historical centre and it is a museum that attracts more and more visitors each year. There are also several other exhibitions and happenings wrapped around this enigmatic and world renown person. The house of Marko Polo is located near to St. Mark’s Cathedral, the most valuable heritage monument of the town of Korcula. Next to the cathedral is the town hall, The abbey treasury and the City museum. The abbey treasury contains illuminated manuscripts dating from the 12th century, gold, silver and porcelain items, medieval ceramics, numismatic rarities, and many other interesting exhibits.
Lumbarda is a small town/village and a municipality with around 1000 inhabitants, that stretches along the sandy north-eastern shore of the island of Korcula, overlooking the peninsula of Peljesac, 5 kilometres to the east from the town of Korcula. Rich cultural and historical heritage, beautiful nature, wine "Grk", extraordinary “Skoji” archipelago located in front of Lumbarda and fabulous sand beaches make one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Korcula. Besides tourism, traditional agriculture and fishing is also developed. The wider area of Lumbarda is inhabited since ancient times, with first inhabitants being Illyrians, and after them came Greeks, in the third century B.C. and later came the Romans, who left remains of Villae Rusticae and quarries on nearby islands of Sutvari, Vrnik and Kamenjak. Small castles and towers were built in 15th century for the defence of the settlement, and todays there are 6 of these castles and towers preserved in Lumbarda.
Racisce is a small place located in the bay that also bears this name, on he northern shore of the island of Korcula, overlooking the Peljesac peninsula. It has around 600 inhabitants and it is located 12 kilometres to the west from the town of Korcula, with which is connected by a good road that goes along the coast and numerous beautiful bays such as: Kneze, Vrbovica, Zrnovska Banja and Medvidnjak that invite you to their loving arms. Accommodation in this area is primarily available in camp sites and private family apartments and villas. Before the development of tourism, the local population lived mainly of fishing, cattle breeding and agriculture. But the most important source for the income always has been sailing on merchant ships. Even though Racisce is located close to the town of Korcula, it offers it’s visitors peace, quiet and solitude. Racisce still remains among of the undiscovered pearls of the island of Korcula.
Prizba developed only recently on the southern shore of the island Korcula as a holiday resort, mostly for families from the neraby town of Blato (10 kms), which is the center of the municipality, and between holiday villages of Grscica (2 kms) and Brna (4 kms). With the development of tourism, Prizba became one of the most popular tourist resorts on the souther coast of the island of Korcula, and today it offers to it's visitors all they need for a nice vacation in unspoiled natural environment. The settlement of Prizba developed along the coast, divided by a small peninsula that protects the small harbour thus shielding it from dangerous southern winds. The wider area of Prizba overlooks the horizons of the open sea and the archipelago of Lastovo - Prizba also boasts with an archipelago of 20 small islets, which are uninhabited and very well preserved. They are popular destinations for daily excursions, naturists and people who seek peace and isolation in beautiful natural environment.
More information about the island of Korcula can be found on following web sites:
Wikipedia page about Korcula - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korčula
Comprehensive travel portal on Korcula - http://www.ikorculainfo.com/
News from Korcula - http://www.ikorcula.net/
Official web site - http://www.korcula.hr/
