Croatia sits between Central Europe, Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean and has long been a place of cultural contact between different worlds and cultures. Perhaps it is fitting then, that Marco Polo, the great medieval traveler, hailed from the island of Korčula, which was once part of the Venetian Empire.
Once home to a vibrant shipbuilding trade, Korčula is covered with dense forests of Aleppo pine, cypress and oak. It is now renowned for its vineyards which produce increasingly good white wine due to its limestone soils.
After a sublime morning under sail, the Sea Cloud moored next to the 13th century walls of Korčula City, the largest town on the island. Situated at the end of a small peninsula facing the mainland, the city and the island were coveted by Croat Kings, Venetians and Ottomans, but it was Venice that dominated the history of the island and left an indelible mark of the architecture, language and culture of the town.
We had a few hours during the towns Siesta to explore or swim before joining one of our great local guides for a walking tour of the town. We entered the walled city through the Lion Gate,
Entering the walled city through the Lion Gate, so called because of the image of the huge winged lion which is the symbol of St Mark, the patron saint and symbol of Venice. We walked down a narrow limestone paved street to get to the Cathedral and Square of St. Mark. Dating to the 15th century, the church holds a very fine collection of magnificent altarpieces including a stunningly beautiful Annunciation by Tintoretto, the great Venetian mannerist artist. We also visited the Chapter House of the Fraternity of All Saints with its impressive collection of icons and processional candles and the Bishop’s Palace with its equally fine collection of Renaissance drawings and liturgical cloaks.
After the tour of the old walled city we were treated to a heart pounding performance of the Moreska sword dance. Now only performed on the island, this traditional dance pits a local Prince against a Moorish noble who has stolen his intended bride and is an exciting, colorful, high-speed pageant of clashing swords, twirling dancers.
As we were to remain at the pier until midnight, many chose to find a small café in which to enjoy some local seafood and wine while others dined aboard and then strolled around the floodlight walls, tiny alleyways and piazzas, cameras in hand before turning in for the evening.
