Zrnovof

Situated on the main island road that runs between Korcula and Vela luka. Zrnovo is 4 km from Korcula. Its consist of four separate villages; Prvo Sela (First Vilage), Brdo (Mount), Kampus and Postrana. Due to its favourable strategic position, it is one of the oldest settlements on the island. Finds of prehistoric life in Jakasova cave, remains from Illyrian and Roman times, and medieval buildings and documents all speak of the rich history of Zrnovo. Entering the village from the direction of Korcula, to the right one finds a divergent road to Brdo (0.5 km) - a part of the village perched amoung high rocks from where one can walk to Kocje - a protected natural park with interesting dolomite rocks of chalk formation (2.5 km). The church of St. Martin is situated on the Mratina hill, and was first mentioned in 1329, and completed in the 16th century. A very attractive piazzeta in front of the church of St. Rocco lies in the region of Postrana. In accordance with the decrees of the statute of 1620, the chivalrous battle Mostra - a struggle for the defence of the home and the election of the village king - takes place here each year on the feast of St. Rocco, August 16th. Even in the 1970s, this battle was still ending with the sacrifice of an ox, whose head was cut off with one stroke of the sword of Vojvoda. This final act has not been performed in recent years because of debates about the humane context of such a custom. A fortified house - kastel - of the Banicevic family is situated in Postrana. Here, Jakov Banicevic (Jacobus de Bannisis) was born on October 15th 1466. He was a renowned European diplomat, counsellor, and the special envoy of the emperors Maximillian I and Charles V, as well as the friend of Erasmus from Rotterdam, Albrecht Durer and Pietro Bemba; he died in Trento on December 19th 1532. A memorial plaque was set on the wall of his native house in 1646. Erasmus from Rotterdam said about this man: e is a man blessed with numerous and varied abilities. The best known man from Zrnovo today is the great Croatian writer Petar Segedin, who describes his native Zrnovo in numerous pages of his rich Work. Many families from the regions of Brdo and Prvo Selo have built impressive stone houses and villas for hiring to tourists in the bays of Vrbovica, Banja and Medvinjak on the northern part of the island. They also offer the products of their households: wine, olive oil, local brandy, and freshly caught fish. Thus, the people of Zrnovo, like other Korculans, discovered village tourism a long time ago. The people of Zrnovo living in the regions of Postrana and Kampus also have possessions in the bays on the south side of the island - defora. these coves, which can be reached by towpaths or rough roads only suitable for agricultural vehicles, are popular amoung tourists who look for Robinson Crusoe like bays and islets. The best known are Orlandusa, Pavja Luka and Rasohatica. Strong red wines made from the Plavac grape grown in these southern coves are especially well thought of in the Korcula cafes. Besides frequent folklore performances, there is a tradition of juvenile theatre in Zrnovo. Young boys and girls from Zrnovo have recived high prizes in both local and international festivals.