Island Šipanf

It is the largest island in the Elaphite archipelago, 17 kilometers north-west from Dubrovnik. Between two limestone hills there is a valley where people grow olives, figs, vineyards, carobs, almonds, pomegranates, citrus fruits. The extreme sunken ends of the valley from cove Šipanska Luka in the north-west and cove Sudurad in the south-east. There are a few small villages in the inland of the island. In Šipanska Luka there are the remains of the Roman villa rustica. The Middle Ages left a number of architectural remains: the ruins of the church of St. Peter on Velji Vrh from the 11th century, small church of St.Ivan in Šilovo Selo, the Early Christian church of St. Mary, the Pre-Romanesque church of St.Mihovil in Pakljeno from the 11th century. In the 15th century, many noble families from Dubrovnik built their summer residences on Šipan. In Šipanska Luka is the summer residance of the Sorkocevic family from the 15th century when the prince's Place with biforas on the front facade was built above the village. The fortified castle in Sudurad was built in 1539 by Tomo Stjepkovic-Skocibuha. Between Sudurad and Šipanska Luka you can see the ruins of the summer residence of the archbishop of Dubrovnik.