Korula is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea.

It is claimed as the birthplace of Marco Polo and is a popular destination because of its
ancient towns, beautiful beaches and natural environment.
Korula is the sixth largest Adriatic island with a land area of 279 km. It's 46.8 km long and averages 7.8 km wide. It lies off the Dalmatian
coast between Split and Dubrovnik.
Korula is the most populated island on Croatian Adriatic coast. It has very good facilities for cycling with lots of small tracks with spectacular view.
Cycling on Korcula is developing fast since the island has a very mild winter therefore all seasons are ideal for cycling.

There are a bevy of activities to engage in in Korcula. If you are the relaxed traveler looking for a quiet getaway, it's possible to soak up the sun on
some of Croatia's most beautiful beaches.

It is important to recognised that Croatia's beaches are quite rocky, so it is imperative to wear the correct footwear. If you plan to swim, wear shoes or
swim fins in the water--there are many sea urchins! The beaches on Korcula offer gorgeous views of the charts coastal ranges. One can see the
nearby coastal village of Orebic as well.

Rent a kayak (200 kn per day for a double from KALETA TRAVEL.)

Rent a snorkel, mask, and swim fins from Kaleta travel (70 kn/day or 400 kn/week) and go snorkeling around the island. Or, rent the kayak and snorkel
set and go paddle to some of the islands around Korula and snorkel there! Recommended is the southeast coast of Badija island--there is a nice
small beach for your kayak and some lovely snorkeling.

Rent a bicycle (7-15 Euro/day) and ride around the island.

Korkyra Baroque Festival

The Korkyra Baroque Festival [5] is a new annual international event, which will be launched from 7th to 16th September 2012. The festival will
showcase a selection of the world's leading ensembles and soloists specialized in Baroque music, including the Academy of Ancient Music (Great
Britain), Laurence Cummings (Great Britain), Le Parlament de Musique (France), Currende & Eric Van Nevel (Belgium), La Venexiana (Italy), Red
Priest (Great Britain), The Croatian Baroque Ensemble (Croatia) along with others.

Twelve concerts will be held over ten days along with a series of supporting events focusing on Baroque music. Along with the festival's high artistic
credentials the event will also promote the richness of Korula's cultural monuments and the whole town as a unique architectural treasure.

For the Active Traveler

Korcula offers a few activities for those seeking a bit more action. In addition to two nightclubs, tourists can take part in the old island tradition of the
Sword Dance, where actors stage a historical battle with eloquent choreography. Tourists can also visit what the town claims is the birthplace of famed
explorer Marco Polo (although "Marco Polo's House" was built at least a century after he died!). Additionally, local shops offer bike rentals if you
choose to explore the island proper.

There are plenty of restaurants on the island, ranging from traditional Adriatic fare to Italian influences.

Don't leave Korula without trying local dishes such as brodet (fish stew), paticada (Dalmatian stewed beef), zrnovski makaruni (beef with thin, long
pieces of pasta) and pogaice (deep-fried dough).

Local desserts include klaun and cukarin (cookies).

Local wines include grk (a dry white wine from Lumbarda, a village 7km from Korula Town) and poip (a dry white wine from Smokvica and Cara).

Vinum Bonum, Punta Jurana, Korcula (Located along a small side street opposite the east harbour). edit Small wine shop in Korcula Town
which also opens as a wine bar in the evenings. The place is popular with locals and serves various wines from the island and region including
Posip and Dingac. Also serves a wide range of local rakijas (flavoured brandies) such as Smokva and Mirta. To accompany your wine it's also
possible to a get a tasty platter of cheese, ham and salted fish.

According to legend, the island was founded by Trojan hero Antenor in the 12th century BC who is also famed as the founder of the city
of Padua.

The island was first settled by Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples. There is archaeological evidence at the sites of Vela Spila (Big Cave)[5] and
at Jakas Cave near the village of Zrnovo. The findings at Vela Spila are on display at the Center for Culture in Vela Luka. The fate of these
peoples is not known but the sites do provide a window into their way of life.[citation needed]

The second wave of human settlement was by Illyrians.[6] It is believed that the Illyrians arrived in Balkans approximately 1000 BC.[7] They
were semi-nomadic tribal people living from agriculture. There are numerous old stone buildings and fortresses (gradine) left behind by the
Illyrians.[8]

Melaina Korkyra (Greek: , "Black Corcyra") was the ancient Cnidian Greek colony founded on Korula.[9] Greek colonists
from Corcyra (Corfu) formed a small colony on the island in the 6th century B.C. The Greeks named it "Black Corfu" after their homeland
and the dense pine-woods on the island. Greek artifacts, including carved marble tombstones can be found at the local Korula town
museum.

A stone inscription found in Lumbarda (Lumbarda Psephisma) and which is the oldest written stone monument in Croatia, records that
Greek settlers from Issa (Vis) founded another colony on the island in the 3rd century BC. The two communities lived peacefully until
the Illyrian Wars (220 BC to 219 BC) [10] with the Romans.

The island became part of the Roman province of Illyricum [11] after the Illyrian Wars. Roman migration followed and Roman citizens arrived
on the island. Roman villas appeared through the territory of Korula and there is evidence of an organised agricultural exploitation of the
land. There are archaeological remains of Roman Junianum [12] on the island and old church foundations.[13]

In 10 AD Illyricum was split into two provinces, Pannonia and Dalmatia.[14] Korula became part of the ancient Roman province of Dalmatia.
 Middle Ages[edit]
In the 6th century it came under Byzantine rule. The Great Migrations of the 6th and 7th centuries brought Croatian[15] invasions into this
region. Along the Dalmatian coast the Croatian peoples poured out of the interior and seized control of the area where the Neretva River
enters the Adriatic, as well as the island of Korula (Corcyra), which protects the river mouth. The Christianisation of the Croats began in
the 9th century, but the early Croatian rural inhabitants of the island may well have fully accepted Christianity only later; in the early Middle
Ages the Croatian population of the island was grouped with the pagan Narentines or Neretvians, who quickly learned maritime skills in this
new environment and became known as pirates.[citation needed]

Initially, Venetian merchants were willing to pay an annual tribute to keep their shipping safe from the infamous Neretvian pirates of the
Dalmatian coast. After the 9th century, the island was briefly under nominal Byzantine suzerainty. In 998 the Principality of Pagania came
under Venetian control. Doge Pietro II Orseolo launched a naval expedition along the coast and assumed the title Duke of
Dalmatia.[16] Afterwards Korula came under the control of the Great Principality of Zahumlje.

In the 12th century Korula was conquered by a Venetian nobleman, Pepone Zorzi, and incorporated briefly into the Venetian Republic.
Around this time, the local Korula rulers began to exercise diplomacy and legislate a town charter to secure the independence of the
island, particularly with regard to internal affairs, given its powerful neighbors. [citation needed]

The brothers of Stephen Nemanja, Miroslav and Stracimir, launched an attack on the island on 10 August 1184, raiding its fertile western
part. The island's inhabitants called for help from the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik), which in turn captured all of Stracimir's galleys.[17]

The Statute of Korula was first drafted in 1214.[18][19] It guaranteed the autonomy of the island, apart from her outside rulers: the Grand
Principality of Raka, the semi-independent Great Principality of Zahumlje and the Republics of Ragusa and Venice. Captains were created
for each of the island's five settlements for organized defence. Korula had fewer than 2,500 inhabitants at that time.[citation needed]

In 1221, Pope Honorius III gave the island to the Princes of Krka (the ubis). During the 13th century the hereditary Counts of Korula
were loosely governed in turn by the Hungarian crown and by the Republic of Genoa, and also enjoyed a brief period of independence; but,
in 1255, Marsilio Zorzi conquered the island's city and razed or damaged some of its churches in the process, forcing the Counts to return
to Venetian supreme rule.[20]

What is more definite is that the Republic of Genoa defeated Venice in the documented Battle of Curzola [21][22] off the coast of Korula in
1298 and a galley commander, Marco Polo, was taken prisoner by the victors to eventually spend his time in a Genoese prison writing of
his travels. However, some Italian scholars believe that he may have been captured in a minor clash near Ayas.[citation needed]

After the writings of Pope Martin IV in 1284 and Pope Honorius IV in 1286 to the Archbishop of Ragusa, the Archbishop installed a certain
Petar as Bishop of Ston and Korula stacnensis ac Crozolensis. In 1291, Ivan Krui was in Korula's city as the Bishop of Korula.
Krui contested his overlord, the Archbishop of Hvar, and wanted to unite Ston with his church domain. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII finally
founded the Korula Bishopric under the Archbishopric of Ragusa. In 1333, as the Republic of Ragusa purchased Ston with Peljeac from
the Serbian Empire, the suzerainty of Ston's Roman Catholic Church with the peninsula was given to the Bishopric of Korula.[citation needed]

Curzola, as the Venetians called it, surrendered to the Kingdom of Hungary in 1358 according to the Treaty of Zadar, but it surrendered to
the Bosnian King Stefan Tvrtko I in the Summer of 1390. However the Kingdom of Hungary restored rule of the island, and in December
1396 Croatian-Hungarian King Sigismund gave it to ura II Stracimirovi of the Bali dynasty of Zeta, who kept it up to his death in 1403,
when it was returned under the Hungarian crown. In 1409 it again became a part of the Venetian Republic, purchased by the neighbouring
Republic of Venice in 14131417, it still declared itself subjected to Venice in 1420. In 1571 it defended itself so gallantly against
the Ottoman attackers at the Battle of Lepanto that it obtained the designation Fidelissima from the Pope.[23]

Venetian and Austrian rule

Korula had for years supplied the timber for the wooden walls of Venice, and had been a favourite station of her fleets. From 1776 to 1797
Korula succeeded Hvar as the main Venetian fortified arsenal in this region. According to the Treaty of Campoformio in 1797 in which the
Venetian Republic was divided between the French Republic and the Habsburg Monarchy, Korula passed on to the Habsburg
Monarchy.[citation needed]

The French Empire invaded the island in 1806, joining it to the Illyrian Provinces. The Montenegrin Forces of Prince-Episcope Peter I
Njegos conquered the island with Russian naval assistance [24] in 1807 during his attempt to construct another Serbian Empire. The defeat
of Austria however at the battle of Wagram in 1809 had put most of the Adriatic under French control. On February 4, 1813 however, British
troops and naval forces under Thomas Fremantle captured the island from the French. This short period of British rule left an important
mark on the island; the new stone West quay was built, as well as a semi-circular paved terrace with stone benches on the newly built road
towards Lumbarda, and a circular tower, "forteca" on the hill of St. Blaise above the town. [25][26] According to the terms of the Congress of
Vienna, the British left the island to the Austrian Empire in 1815 on July 19 in terms of the Congress of Vienna. Korula accordingly became
a part of the Austrian crown land of Dalmatia.[27]From 1867, Korula was in the Cisleithanian part of Austro-Hungary.
 20th century[edit]
During the First World War, the island (among other territorial gains) was promised to the Kingdom of Italy in the 1915 Treaty of London in
return for Italy joining the war on the side of Great Britain and France. However, after the war, Korula became a part (with the rest of
Dalmatia) of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs in 1918. It was ruled by Italy from 1918 to 1921, after which it was incorporated into
the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, known from 1929 on as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1939, it became a part of the
autonomous Croatian Banate.[citation needed]

After the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia in April 1941, Italy annexed the island.[28] After the Armistice between Italy and the Allied powers in
September 1943, it was briefly held by the Yugoslav Partisans who enjoyed considerable support in the region. [28] Korula was then
occupied by German forces which controlled the island until their withdrawal in September 1944.[29] With the liberation of Yugoslavia in
1945, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was formed, and Korula became a part of the People's Republic of Croatia, one of the
six Yugoslav Republics. The state changed the name to Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1953, and so did the Republic
into Socialist Republic of Croatia. After 1991, the island became a part of the independent Republic of Croatia.

Lumbarda (it: Lombarda) is a small village and a municipality located on the Eastern tip of the Island of Korula in Croatia, 7 kilometers away from the
town of Korula.[1] A road passing through a picturesque area of pine woods and olive groves connects these two places. Lumbarda is surrounded by
sandy vineyards (famous white wine "Grk" produced from the native grape of the same name) and sandy beaches such as Vela Prina, Bilin al and
Tatinja. Lumbarda is a tourist centre, many of its 1200 [2] inhabitants are active in the local tourist service (private accommodation, tourist excursion to
islands Mljet and Lastovo and around islands of Korula archipelago, scuba diving exursions etc.) but they are also wine-growers, fishermen and
stone-dressers. Lumbarda has a rich history preserved in written documents dating back to more than two thousand years ago.

Orebic- It was named after the family who restored the castle inside the fortified settlement in 1586.[1] During the 19th century, Orebi had 17 of the
most important nautical captains in Austria-Hungary Empire.[2] Tourism is one of the town's main sources of income, especially during the summer
months. In the 1960s a large number of non-locals (mostly from larger cities in the then former Yugoslavia) built homes for their summer holidays. In
subsequent years, tourists from other European countries have begun visiting, staying either in hotels or in the camp sites located around the town that
also cater to camper vans. The town's main beach is at Trstenica. Many locals also rent out rooms or apartments during the high season.

The Franciscan monastery of Our Lady of Angels is a local attraction, along with the Mount of Saint Elijah (Croatian brdo Sv. Ilija) located behind the
town which offers a view of the island of Korula and the Adriatic Sea. There are many sign-posted hiking paths from Orebi and nearby villages that
lead to the summit .

At the eastern approach to the town, just before Trstenica beach, Korta Katarina is currently being renovated. This building is expected to house a
boutique hotel, wine tasting room, and a winery of the same name which produced local varieties such as Poip and Plavac Mali.

Postup is wine growing region on Croatia's Peljeac peninsula just to the east of Orebi. It takes its name from the small village that sits at the center
of it.

The main grape harvested in Postup is Plavac Mali and, like the grapes from the region of nearby Dinga, the grapes grown here are held in high
regard. [1] Postup was the second Croatian wine region, after Dinga, to be registered for state protection (today Protected Geographical Status) in
1967. [2]

Postup straddles the Adriatic Sea with views across the Peljeac Channel to the islands of Korula and Badija as well as across the Mljet Channel to
the islands of Mljet and Lastovo. The region can be accessed via the road leading from Orebi to Ston (the D414) on a smaller route leading to the
villages of Borje and Podubue.

The wines grown in Postup are typically crushed, bottled, and aged in nearby Potomje where most of the main wineries for Peljeac are located. While
they don't approach the robust character typical of Plavac Mali-based wines from Dinga, they are still able to develop a fuller body than those grown in
the interior due to the slope of the vineyards as well as the sunlight reflected from the Adriatic Sea. [1] The grapes are also considerably easier to
harvest than those of Dinga due to a more established infrastructure.

Notable producers of Postup region wines include: Vinarija Dinga, Bura-Mokalo, and Bartulovi among others. [1]

Smokvica (Italian: Smoquizza) is a village on the island of Korula and a municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia. It has a population
of 1,210 (census 2001),[1] in which the absolute majority are Croats (98%). Smokvica is located in the centre of the island of Korula, about 4 kilometers
west of ara, 13 kilometers east of Blato and 4 kilometers north from Brna. It is known as the birthplace of one of the best-known Croatian wines -
Poip.

The large Neo-Romanesque church of the Purification of Our Lady was designed by Oton Ivekovi and built in 1920 on the site of an older church
which was built in 1666. Beside it is a "loggia", a baroque building surrounded by columns on all sides. In the village there are several old patrician
summer houses, and nearby there are several small early-medieval churches. The Ante Cefera cultural and performing society in the village nurtures
the music and local folk dance called Kumpanija.[2]

Smokvica has several fertile fields that are named Krusevo, Prapratna, Stiniva, Banja, Sitnica, Livin Dol and Cipojino polje. The seaside village
of Brna is part of the municipality of Smokvica.

Over 70% of the area of the municipality is forested land. About 250 hectares (625 acres) are devoted to vineyards with about two million grape vines.
Another 144 hectares (360 acres) are olive orchards with 176,000 olive trees.[3]

The origin of the name Smokvica is not completely understood. It is understood that it might have come from the Roman language Latin, which means
pathways. It is also possible that the name could be linked with the presence of water, due to the numerous ponds and lakes in the field of Sitnica in
ancient times. Most likely the name has nothing to do with the Mediterranean fruit tree, the fig (Croatian: "smokva").

Smokvica has been inhabited since ancient times. Numerous remains of ancient ceramics have been found in the area. Mostly old Greek and Roman
wine and olive oil vases. There are also remains of ancient Greek villas. In the Korula Statute [1] from 1214 Smokvica is mentioned (but the earliest
dated mention of Smokvica is in 1338). The Korula Statute recommends on the defense of the old town of Korula as well as Blato, Smokvica,
ara, Pupnat and rnovo. Smokvica along with the island of Korula was part of the Republic of Venice (1420-1797).[4][5]
On June 10, 1715, at the crack of dawn, 260 Turkish pirates in two galleys landed at Brna, 3 miles southwest of Smokvica, and carried away 23
residents of Smokvica to be sold as slaves, along with Don Marko Bono from Zrnovo, the parish priest. Don Marko was sold as a slave in Ulcinj [6] for
100 sequins but was later ransomed by his relatives for 141 sequins and returned to Smokvica where he remained until his death in 1745.[7]

Dinko Tomasic (19021975), the first Croatian sociologist, was born in Smokvica. His father Frano Tomasic Dezevic (18541926) was the first teacher
in Smokvica.[8]

During World War II, the pastor's house was burned down during a German attack on August 7, 1944, with the loss of the parish archive dating back to
1604.[9] A plaque in Smokvica lists the names of 43 Partisans from Smokvica who were killed in the National Liberation War, along with 16 civilians.

CAVTAT The town changed its name to Epidaurum when it came under Roman rule in 228 BC. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and
Pompey (49 BC), it lined up in favor of the former and was later besieged by Octavian, but was saved by the arrival of the consul. Later it became a
Roman colonia and was occupied during the Gothic Wars by a fleet sent by the emperor Justinian (535-54 AD). The city was sacked and destroyed by
the Avars and Slavs in the 7th century. Refugees from Epidaurum fled to the nearby island, Laus (Ragusa) which over time evolved into the city of
Dubrovnik

From that moment Cavtat was always under the control of powerful neighbour.

The modern Croatian name for the city reveals the ancient origin and the link with Dubrovnik: Cavtat is a derived from Civitas Vetus, the name by
which the Dubrovnikans called their old city. Today Cavtat is a popular tourist destination, with many hotels and private homes that rent rooms and
apartments. The seafront is filled with shops and restaurants. A ferry boat connects the town to neighboring Mlini and Dubrovnik.

Cavtat is a very easy town to get around on foot. The old town is built on Rat Peninsula rising above harbour areas on both sides, Luka to the south-
west and Uvala Tiha, to the north-east. The main harbour and restaurant and bar area is on the South West side of the peninsula; here you will find
post office, pharmacy and supermarket. There is also an interesting walk along the spine of the peninsula along a narrow alley (Prijeko) through the old
town ending up at the Racic Family mausoleum. from here amongst the family vaults there are wonderful views across the bay to Dubrovnik. There is
also a path (Setaliste Rat) following the coastline around the Rat peninsula, serving bathing areas, boat hire locations and bars. To the South West of
the main harbour is another peninsula (Sustjepan) also with a coastal path encircling the grounds of Hotel Croatia. To the North East of the old town it
is possible to walk along the coast road (Tiha) past more bars and restaurants, a very attractive walk along the water's edge, then on past the Hotels
Albatros and Epidaurus ending at a bathing area called Prahivac.

There is a footpath from Cavtat to Mocici and Cilipi which is a lovely walk parallel with the coast, it takes about 2 hours in one direction. Cilipi is a very
attractive village with a minimart and several bars. There is an interesting folk museum and folk dances are performed in front of the church every
Sunday morning at 11.00 am.

Apart from the Racic family mausoleum and cemetery on the hill, you can visit St. Nicholas' church (between the restaurants and the shops), the
Franciscan Monastery and our Lady of the Snows (walk past all the restaurants, until the path narrows).

The walks around both peninsulas are fine, with the western (Sustjepan) walk a little rougher, but more picturesque (there are new benches placed
every 100 metros along the path). Walking around the peninsula takes 30-45 minutes. There are no facilities and no places to bathe, except at the
beginning, near the town and at the end, at the Hotel Croatia.

The walk around the Rat peninsula is tarmaced and comfortable to walk, with only gentle slopes from time to time. There are one or two bathing areas,
a good restaurant (the Rokotin) and a small, bohemian cliffside bar (near the private house at the tip of the peninsula). There is also a Roman 'villa'
(signed from the path), but it is disappointing.

THe bathing area near the Iberostar Albatros hotel is rather good and not particularly crowded. There is a bar and restaurant (Domiana [3]), both
worth visiting. One can also catch boats to Dubrovnik and Locrum island here.

There is a lot to do in Cavtat. Firstly there is a wide range of waterfront eating and drinking spots, where you can enjoy a coffee or beer for as long as
you want, watching the world go by, the yachts coming and going. The Obala Dr A Starcevica is the main area with restricted traffic access.

Eating and drinks is a lot less expensive than in Dubrovnik. In 2013, 0.5l of draught beer costs 20 kn, a coffee about 8-10 kn; you can enjoy a
waterfront meal for two with 0.5l carafe of wine typically from 160 - 450 kn. The food is of high quality, beautifully presented and generous of portion.

In addition to lovely coastal and country walks, there are lots of water sport opportunities including motorboat and kayak hire. There are fishing trips,
boat trips to the local islands, as well as a regular service to Dubrovnik 80 kn return. There are about 15 swimming and sunbathing terraces in the
Cavtat area. There are numerous excursions available, including day trips to Kotor in Montenegro and Mostar in Bosnia. Also many trips to islands and
historic towns North of Dubrovnik such as Ston and Korcula.

The folk dancing is worth seeing in Cilipi on Sunday mornings at 11.00, you also get at a free welcome drink of strong wine or local brandy.
www.cilipifolklor.hr

Overall, just slow down and relax, making the most of the cafe society vibe and the polite and courteous Croats.

The river Ljuta in Konavle is an oasis of natural beauty. The name Ljuta actually means angry in Croatian and at times especially during the winter months it is easy to
see where it got its name. Croatia's southernmost region is rich in a thousand years of history, magical blue-green landscapes and architecture.
Even today, we can listen briefly to the spirit of times gone by and experience the centuries-old traditions of our ancestors. Konavle is a region south of Dubrovnik
stretching from the coastal town of Cavtat to the Montenegrin border. The landscape is a canvas of arid plateaus, sun-bleached mountains and fertile valleys famous
for its olive oil, fruit and organic farm products. An informal day of exploring will take you to Konavle's hinterland and secret places, the ancient Greek settlement of
Cavtat and the village of Cilipi best known for its beautiful embroidered textiles and traditional folk dancing. The river Ljuta is certainly one of the highlights of
Konavle and its natural beauty will amaze you. Also at this time of the year when the temperatures are soaring the Ljuta River is always at least 5 degrees cooler.

The best way to find the river is to pass through the village of Gruda and continue until you see a bridge and the Monkovic restaurant. Here there is parking and you
can start your walk. Cross over the bridge and turn right where you will see the remains of one of the many mills on the river. Many of these mills and viaducts have
been repaired in the last few years so that they now look impressive. You will see water running in all directions and they all lead up to recently rebuilt mill which is
now a small cafe. A perfect place to enjoy a cold drink before continuing your walk.

Just behind the mill is a path which winds through the wooded river bank. Another perfect place to hide from the sun as the tree cover offers almost permanent shade.
The path leads to a 400-year-old watermill, which is part of the restaurant complex Konavoski Dvori. Here you will be able to see traditional cooking methods such as
cooking under the bell and traditional breads. There are great views of the river and the small waterfalls. Returning back down the same path and over the bridge
where the Monkovi restaurant is located. Ever had a meal in a river? This unique restaurant actually has tables in the centre of the river and is certainly
recommended.