Korcula
The town and harbor that lies on the small peninsula connected to the mainland with narrow isthmus. The sueeounding area is covered eith pine forest. East of the harbor is small archipelago. There are two beaches in the town, and the coves Srečica, Banja and Vrbovica, west of the town are also good for swimming.
Inside the walls, in the old part of the town, at the beginning of the 16th century, lived 6,000 inhabitants. The population was reduced by the plague in 1529 and by the attack of Ulič-Alija in 1571. The neo-baroque staircase leads from the coast, along the open loggia from 1548, to the old part of the town. There are two obelisks raised in the memory of the rule of the town princes, as well as the stone pillar with an inscription from 1592, that evokes the memory of the Trojan hero Anthenor, the legendary founder of Korčula. The cathedral of St.Marko is located on the square in the center of the town. It is a Gothic building from the first half of the 15th century with elements of the Embellished Gothic style. It was finished at the end of the 15th century. The chapel of St.Rok with baroque altar was later built baside the cathedral. Baside the cathedra there is also the church of St. Peter (that was mentioned for the first time in 1338) with the renaissance portal and large number of graves. Opposite to the cathedral is deserted Arneri Palace, built in the Embellished Gothic style with renaissance garden. Next to it is the Gabrielli's Palace (present Town Museum), and in front of the palace, baside the small church of Madonna, is the stone holder for the town flag from 1515. Beside the cathedral is the Abbey (former Bishop's Palace) built in the renaissance/baroque style with rich treasury. The longitudinal main street goes over staircase. On the small square, the first paved area in the town (1569), there is the municipality building, with arcades from 1520 on the ground floor. It used to be connected with the Prince's Palace raised in the 14th century. The tower Mali Revelin got its present shape in 1499. At the end of the 15th century the town arsenal was located between that tower and circular town tower Balbi. In 1569, a pillar was raised in front of the municipality building. The exit from the old part of the town are the Land Gates that lead trough Revelin to the bridge across former ditch. There begins the road on what used to be town wall that goes beside rotunda of the market place, and in the eastern part of the town, beside the Cappelo Tower. Further is the church and seat of the Brotherhood of All Saints. On the northern promontory of the peninsula is semicircular Tiepolo Tower. On the western coast, beside the rub of the harbor, is the Barbarigo Tower. The west coast road leads to the Dominican monastery with the chuech of St. Nikola with two naves. The traditional performance and knight dance with singing is still preserved in the town of Korčula. It is performed every year in July in the memory of the Turkish assaults on Korčula. There are two parties of warriors involved in the performance. They are wearing old, stylized costumes (one party is dressed in black and other in red), and trough singing and dancing they are fighting for the bride. This dance is one of the tourist attractions of Korčula.
|
