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Korcula (town)
Encyclopedia
Korčula is a historic fortified town on the protected east coast of the island
of Korčula
in the Adriatic. It is geographically located at 42°57′N, 17°07′E.
:
-Gothic
Cathedral of St Mark (built from 1301 to 1806), the 15th-century Franciscan
monastery with a beautiful Venetian Gothic
cloister
, the civic council chambers, the palace of the former Venetian
governors, grand 15th and 16th century palaces of the local merchant nobles, and the massive city fortifications.
inhabitants of Korčula keep alive old folk church ceremonies and a weapon dance
, the Moreška
, which dates back to the middle ages
. Originally danced only on special occasions, in modern times there are performances twice a week for tourists.
The city is notable for its Town Statute dating back to 1214 which prohibited slavery
, making Korčula the first place in the world to outlaw the practice.
Korčula, like other islands and many coastal cities in Dalmatia
, also displays a dual Latin
-Slav culture which developed from the late Roman
era to the emergence of the modern Croatian state. Until the late 19th century, Italians made up the vast majority of the population of Korčula town while the rest of the island was almost completely inhabited by Croatians. The island therefore possesses a distinct Adriatic or Mediterranean cultural personality which sets it apart from the mountainous Dalmatia
n hinterland and continental Croatia further north. The town revered for possibly being the birth town of famous Venetian merchant, Marco Polo.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
in the Adriatic. It is geographically located at 42°57′N, 17°07′E.
Population
The City of Korčula has a total population of 5,634, in the following individual settlementsNaselje
Naselje is a settlement in Croatia, usually translated as settlement. It is the smallest unit of Croatian territory. Individual settlements are by and large referred to as selo , while naselje is a statistical and administrative category. The units of local government in Croatia, cities and...
:
- ČaraCaraCara or CARA may refer to:Human names* Cara , a given name for females.** People with the given name Cara* Cara, an Italian surname.** Ana Cara, an American professor** Irene Cara, an American singer and actress...
, population 613 - Korčula, population 2,839
- PupnatPupnatPupnat is a village on the island of Korčula in Croatia. Korčula, the island, is part of the Dalmatian coast and is situated within the Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Inhabitants of Pupnat consist mostly of Croatians of Slavic roots. Pupnat has a population of 439 residents...
, population 396 - RačišćeRačišćeRačišće is a village on the island of Korčula in Croatia. Korcula the island is part of the Dalmatian coast and it belongs to the Dubrovnik-Neretva county. It has a population of 477 residents. The village is situated 12 kilometers west of the old town of Korcula.Racisce was established in 17th...
, population 434 - Žrnovo, population 1,352
Construction
The old city is surrounded by walls, and the streets are arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds. Korčula is tightly built on a promontory that guards the narrow sound between the island and the mainland. Building outside the walls was forbidden until the 18th century, and the wooden drawbridge was only replaced in 1863. All of Korčula's narrow streets are stepped with the notable exception of the street running alongside the southeastern wall. The street is called the Street of Thoughts as one did not have to worry about the steps.Historic sites
The town's historic sites include the central RomanesqueRomanesque 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,...
-Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Cathedral of St Mark (built from 1301 to 1806), the 15th-century Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery with a beautiful Venetian Gothic
Venetian Gothic architecture
Venetian Gothic is a term given to an architectural style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Arab influences from Moorish Spain and early...
cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
, the civic council chambers, the palace of the former 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...
governors, grand 15th and 16th century palaces of the local merchant nobles, and the massive city fortifications.
Culture
The devout CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
inhabitants of Korčula keep alive old folk church ceremonies and a weapon dance
Weapon dance
The weapon dance employs weapons—or stylized versions of weapons—traditionally used in combat in order to simulate, recall, or reenact combat or the moves of combat in the form of dance, usually for some ceremonial purpose. Such dancing is quite common to folk ritual in many parts of the world...
, the Moreška
Moreška
Moreška is a traditional sword dance from the town of Korčula, on the Croatian island of the same name in the Adriatic. Dating back hundreds of years, the Moreška is an elaborate production involving two groups of dancers, engaging in a mock battle over the fate of a veiled young woman...
, which dates back to the middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Originally danced only on special occasions, in modern times there are performances twice a week for tourists.
The city is notable for its Town Statute dating back to 1214 which prohibited slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, making Korčula the first place in the world to outlaw the practice.
Korčula, like other islands and many coastal cities in 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....
, also displays a dual Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
-Slav culture which developed from the late Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
era to the emergence of the modern Croatian state. Until the late 19th century, Italians made up the vast majority of the population of Korčula town while the rest of the island was almost completely inhabited by Croatians. The island therefore possesses a distinct Adriatic or Mediterranean cultural personality which sets it apart from the mountainous 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 hinterland and continental Croatia further north. The town revered for possibly being the birth town of famous Venetian merchant, Marco Polo.