Komiža
Encyclopedia
Komiža is a town
, harbour and municipality on the western coast of the island of Vis
in the Adriatic Sea
; population
of 1677 residents.
Komiža is located at the foot of the Hum hill (587 m). An average air temperature in January is 8.9 °C (48 °F). Economy is based on farming, winemaking, fishing and fish processing, seafaring and in recent times on tourism. The fisherman are noted for their Falkuša
vessels.
Komiža has two roads that connect it with the town of Vis
, the only town being connected with Split
by ferry line — they are the D117 state road
and a county road.
, California. Many families of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana have ancestors that came from Komiža, Dalmatia a century and half ago. so that fish and other seafood are traditionally served daily. Traditionally the fisherman used the falkuša
, a unique wooden sailboat that is tapered narrowly on both ends.
Sports and recreational facilities include three boccia
courts, as well as various playgrounds for basketball, handball and football. Water sports and diving are part of the towns summer activities. Komiža is famous for its wines.
The special atmosphere of summer evenings is supplemented by performances of harmony-singing groups (Klape), children's choirs on the coastal promenade or in one of local restaurants. Exhibitions and other cultural events are regularly organised, especially when the Croatians from the USA are visiting. Komiža natives visit their mother country on a regular basis.
The settlement was first mentioned in the 12th century. The citadel (kaštel) in the port was built in 1585.
In the 13th century, the Benedictines founded the monastery of St. Nicholas, so-called Muster on an elevation above the settlement. The oldest core of the monastery is a one-nave Romanesque church with a semicircular apse from the 13th century.
In the period of the 14th-17th century a large five-nave church was built: its central nave dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and the large Baroque
sanctuary to 1652. Two high square towers in Romanesque
style have been preserved of the original monastery fortifications; the tower above the church front was converted into a bell tower in 1770.
The church of Our Lady of Gusarica (Lady of Pirates) consists of three one-nave churches of the same size, which are connected with arches in the interior. The oldest of them is the middle church (16th c.), while the side churches date back to the 17th and the 18th centuries. The church features Baroque altars, an organ from 1670 and an outstanding silver relief of Our Lady of the Rosary from the 17th century.
The fortified church of St. Roch (Rocco) was erected in 1763, and the church of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (the New Church) dates back to 1756.
The Art Nouveau building of the Community Centre from the beginning of the 20th century is a work by the architect A. Bezic; the Memorial Centre was designed by S. Planic, the author of the reliefs and mosaics is B. Mardesic. The Gallery of Duro Tiljak has been open in Komiža since 1966, and since 1984 also the Gallery of Boris Mardesic.
which is the most distant large island in the Central Dalmatian coast. Vis is centered on 90.3 square kilometers of land. Its widest point spans 17 kilometers and from north to south its maximum length is 8 kilometers. It is approximately 45-55 kilometers from the Dalmatia
n coastline to the island of Vis (island)
. The coastline of Vis measures 76.7 kilometers long and is marked by bays, coves and natural ports.
which is visited by 10,000 tourists each year who come to see the unique Blue Cave (Modra Spilja) in the Adriatic Sea
. Visitors can also see the St. Nicholas’ Convent monastery from the 13th century, the Kastel (Venetian
Tower) in the harbor from the 16th century or Baroque sanctuary from the 16th century.
Komiža is home to Jože Borčić’s international ballet school where students perform ballet, pop, and modern jazz
dances during the summer for the town entertainment.
The harbour master is also worth a visit. With his big moustache, he is the local attraction. Some people would even modify their initial plans to enjoy it longer. But that comes at a price, 3600 Kuna, and that's if you are lucky.
Among the other attractions is the annual celebration of Komiža's fishing heritage, Ribarska Noć (Fisherman's Night). The festival features fireworks, many types of traditional food, souvenir shops, ice cream stands, and a children's kayak race.
making is done mostly for personal consumption. The money generated by winemaking is not enough to for a commercial industry. Grape harvest is performed in mid September, being field crushed and then fermented
for 3–10 days. It is then pressed once and barrel aged for about 2–4 months. The pressed mash is reconstituted with water and allowed to ferment for a few more days and is pressed again, with this pressing being distilled and used to make the famous "Grappa". Generally the vines are sprayed once with insecticide
and then blue stoned (copper sulfate) about four times during the growing season.
The distillation of rosemary
oil results in the production of up to 24,000 pounds oil per year.
Biševo, in the early 1900s with a population of about 200 residents, was noted for bee-keeping and wild honey
production.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, harbour and municipality on the western coast of the island of Vis
Vis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
in the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
; population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 1677 residents.
Komiža is located at the foot of the Hum hill (587 m). An average air temperature in January is 8.9 °C (48 °F). Economy is based on farming, winemaking, fishing and fish processing, seafaring and in recent times on tourism. The fisherman are noted for their Falkuša
Falkuša
A falkusa is a traditional fishing boat used by fishermen from the town of Komiža on the Adriatic island of Vis, Croatia. Falkuša is a subtype of gajeta, a traditional Dalmatian fishing sailboat, and is sometimes called gajeta falkuša...
vessels.
Komiža has two roads that connect it with the town of Vis
Vis (town)
Vis is a town on the Vis island of the same name in Croatia. It has a population of 1960 residents . It is the center of the Vis municipality and part of Split-Dalmatia County.-History:...
, the only town being connected with Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
by ferry line — they are the D117 state road
D117 (Croatia)
D117 is a state road on Vis Island in Croatia connecting the town of Komiža to Vis ferry port, from where Jadrolinija ferries fly to the mainland, docking in Split and the D410 state road The road is long....
and a county road.
General information
Situated in a deep bay, whose eastern coast abounds with large pebble beaches (Kamenica, Gusarica, Nova Pošta, Velo Žalo), Komiža offers excellent visitor opportunities: quality accommodation (hotel, apartments), a number of cultural and historic sites, monasteries and fortresses. It is famous for its fishermen (fishermen from Komiža are also known in San PedroSan Pedro Bay (California)
San Pedro Bay is an inlet on the Pacific Ocean coast of southern California, United States. It is the site of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, which together form the fifth-busiest port facility in the world and easily the busiest in the Western Hemisphere...
, California. Many families of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana have ancestors that came from Komiža, Dalmatia a century and half ago. so that fish and other seafood are traditionally served daily. Traditionally the fisherman used the falkuša
Falkuša
A falkusa is a traditional fishing boat used by fishermen from the town of Komiža on the Adriatic island of Vis, Croatia. Falkuša is a subtype of gajeta, a traditional Dalmatian fishing sailboat, and is sometimes called gajeta falkuša...
, a unique wooden sailboat that is tapered narrowly on both ends.
Sports and recreational facilities include three boccia
Boccia
Boccia is a traditional recreational sport, similar to bocce. The name Boccia is derived from the Latin word for boss – bottia. The sport is competed at national and international level, by athletes who require a wheelchair because of physical disability...
courts, as well as various playgrounds for basketball, handball and football. Water sports and diving are part of the towns summer activities. Komiža is famous for its wines.
The special atmosphere of summer evenings is supplemented by performances of harmony-singing groups (Klape), children's choirs on the coastal promenade or in one of local restaurants. Exhibitions and other cultural events are regularly organised, especially when the Croatians from the USA are visiting. Komiža natives visit their mother country on a regular basis.
Heritage
In the 13th century, the Benedictines founded the monastery of St. Nicholas, so-called Muster on an elevation above the settlement. The oldest core of the monastery is a one-nave Romanesque church with a semicircular apse from the 13th century.
In the period of the 14th-17th century a large five-nave church was built: its central nave dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and the large Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
sanctuary to 1652. Two high square towers in Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style have been preserved of the original monastery fortifications; the tower above the church front was converted into a bell tower in 1770.
The church of Our Lady of Gusarica (Lady of Pirates) consists of three one-nave churches of the same size, which are connected with arches in the interior. The oldest of them is the middle church (16th c.), while the side churches date back to the 17th and the 18th centuries. The church features Baroque altars, an organ from 1670 and an outstanding silver relief of Our Lady of the Rosary from the 17th century.
The fortified church of St. Roch (Rocco) was erected in 1763, and the church of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (the New Church) dates back to 1756.
The Art Nouveau building of the Community Centre from the beginning of the 20th century is a work by the architect A. Bezic; the Memorial Centre was designed by S. Planic, the author of the reliefs and mosaics is B. Mardesic. The Gallery of Duro Tiljak has been open in Komiža since 1966, and since 1984 also the Gallery of Boris Mardesic.
Location
Komiža is located on the island of VisVis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
which is the most distant large island in the Central Dalmatian coast. Vis is centered on 90.3 square kilometers of land. Its widest point spans 17 kilometers and from north to south its maximum length is 8 kilometers. It is approximately 45-55 kilometers from the Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n coastline to the island of Vis (island)
Vis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
. The coastline of Vis measures 76.7 kilometers long and is marked by bays, coves and natural ports.
Climate
Komiža experiences warm and temperate winters with warm to hot summers with the landward breeze making it the most moderate climate in the Republic of Croatia. The climate allows for Tropical and Mediterranean vegetation, including palms, carobs, olives, grapes and lemons. The average rainfall is about 750 mm (29.53 in) per square meter. The island of Vis has a number of natural sources of drinking water from the natural spring water reservoirs. The island is also home to twelve distinct types of island vegetation. Vis has been marked as one of the ten most environmentally preserved islands in the Mediterranean by the World Organization for Environmental Protection.Attractions
Komiža is well known for its close proximity to the island of BiševoBiševo
Biševo is an island in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is situated in the middle of the Dalmatian archipelago, five kilometers southwest of the Island of Vis. Its area is 5.8 km and it has a population of 11 . It is composed of limestone; the highest point is Straženica, 239 m high...
which is visited by 10,000 tourists each year who come to see the unique Blue Cave (Modra Spilja) in the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. Visitors can also see the St. Nicholas’ Convent monastery from the 13th century, the Kastel (Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
Tower) in the harbor from the 16th century or Baroque sanctuary from the 16th century.
Komiža is home to Jože Borčić’s international ballet school where students perform ballet, pop, and modern jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
dances during the summer for the town entertainment.
The harbour master is also worth a visit. With his big moustache, he is the local attraction. Some people would even modify their initial plans to enjoy it longer. But that comes at a price, 3600 Kuna, and that's if you are lucky.
Among the other attractions is the annual celebration of Komiža's fishing heritage, Ribarska Noć (Fisherman's Night). The festival features fireworks, many types of traditional food, souvenir shops, ice cream stands, and a children's kayak race.
Wine Making
Today wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
making is done mostly for personal consumption. The money generated by winemaking is not enough to for a commercial industry. Grape harvest is performed in mid September, being field crushed and then fermented
Fermentation (wine)
The process of fermentation in wine turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. During fermentation, yeast interact with sugars in the juice to create ethanol, commonly known as ethyl alcohol, and carbon dioxide...
for 3–10 days. It is then pressed once and barrel aged for about 2–4 months. The pressed mash is reconstituted with water and allowed to ferment for a few more days and is pressed again, with this pressing being distilled and used to make the famous "Grappa". Generally the vines are sprayed once with insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
and then blue stoned (copper sulfate) about four times during the growing season.
The distillation of rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...
oil results in the production of up to 24,000 pounds oil per year.
Biševo, in the early 1900s with a population of about 200 residents, was noted for bee-keeping and wild honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
production.