Smokvica
Encyclopedia
Smokvica is a village on the island of Korčula
and a municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia
. It has a population of 1,210 (census 2001), in which the absolute majority are Croats
(98%). Smokvica is located in the centre of the island of Korcula
, about 4 kilometers west of Čara
, 13 kilometers east of Blato and 4 kilometers north from Brna
. It is known as the birthplace of one of the best-known Croatian wines - Pošip
.
The large Neo-Romanesque church of the Purification of Our Lady was designed by Oton Ivekovic
and built in 1920 on the site of an older church which was built in 1666. Beside it is a "loggia," a baroque
building surrounded by columns on all sides. In the village there are several old patrician summer houses, and nearby there are several small early-medieval churches. The Ante Cefera cultural and performing society in the village nurtures the music and local folk dance called Kumpanija.
Smokvica has several fertile fields that are named Krusevo, Prapratna, Stiniva, Banja, Sitnica, Livin Dol and Cipojino polje. The seaside village of Brna
is part of the municipality of Smokvica.
Over 70% of the area of the municipality is forested land. About 250 hectares (625 acres) are devoted to vineyards with about two million grape vines. Another 144 hectares (360 acres) are olive orchards with 176,000 olive trees.
language Latin
, which means pathways. It is also possible that the name could be linked with the presence of water, due to the numerous ponds and lakes in the field of Sitnica in ancient times. Most likely the name has nothing to do with the Mediterranean fruit tree, the fig
(Croatian
: "smokva").
Smokvica has been inhabited since ancient times. Numerous remains of ancient ceramics have been found in the area. Mostly old Greek
and Roman wine and olive oil vases. There are also remains of ancient Greek villas. In the Korcula Statute http://www.korculainfo.com/history/statute-korcula-town-1214.html from 1214 Smokvica is mentioned (but the earliest dated mention of Smokvica is in 1338). The Korcula Statute recommends on the defense of the old town of Korcula as well as Blato, Smokvica, Čara, Pupnat
and Žrnovo
. Smokvica along with the island of Korcula was part of the Republic of Venice
(1420-1797).
On June 10, 1715, at the crack of dawn, 260 Turkish pirates in two galleys landed at Brna
, 3 miles southwest of Smokvica, and carried away 23 residents of Smokvica to be sold as slaves, along with Don Marko Bono from Zrnovo, the parish priest. Don Marko was sold as a slave in Ulcinj
for 100 sequins but was later ransomed by his relatives for 141 sequins and returned to Smokvica where he remained until his death in 1745.
Dinko Tomasic
(1902–1975), the first Croatian sociologist, was born in Smokvica. His father Frano Tomasic Dezevic (1854–1926) was the first teacher in Smokvica.
During World War II
, the pastor's house was burned down during a German attack on August 7, 1944, with the loss of the parish archive dating back to 1604. A plaque in Smokvica lists the names of 43 Partisans from Smokvica who were killed in the National Liberation War, along with 16 civilians.
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...
and a municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. It has a population of 1,210 (census 2001), in which the absolute majority are Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
(98%). Smokvica is located in the centre of the island of Korcula
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...
, about 4 kilometers west of Čara
Cara
Cara 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...
, 13 kilometers east of Blato and 4 kilometers north from Brna
Brna
Brna is a village on the southern shores of the island of Korčula in Croatia, close to the village of Smokvica, as well as Prižba and Priscapac...
. It is known as the birthplace of one of the best-known Croatian wines - Pošip
Pošip
Pošip is an autochthonous white wine grape that is primarily grown in the Dalmatian region of Croatia on the island of Korčula, although small amounts are also being grown on the Pelješac Peninsula...
.
The large Neo-Romanesque church of the Purification of Our Lady was designed by Oton Ivekovic
Oton Ivekovic
Oton Iveković was one of the foremost Croatian painters. He graduated from the Vienna Academy of Painting. He later taught at the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts. Iveković largely concerned himself with historical topics as well as some religious themes...
and built in 1920 on the site of an older church which was built in 1666. Beside it is a "loggia," a 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...
building surrounded by columns on all sides. In the village there are several old patrician summer houses, and nearby there are several small early-medieval churches. The Ante Cefera cultural and performing society in the village nurtures the music and local folk dance called Kumpanija.
Smokvica has several fertile fields that are named Krusevo, Prapratna, Stiniva, Banja, Sitnica, Livin Dol and Cipojino polje. The seaside village of Brna
Brna
Brna is a village on the southern shores of the island of Korčula in Croatia, close to the village of Smokvica, as well as Prižba and Priscapac...
is part of the municipality of Smokvica.
Over 70% of the area of the municipality is forested land. About 250 hectares (625 acres) are devoted to vineyards with about two million grape vines. Another 144 hectares (360 acres) are olive orchards with 176,000 olive trees.
History
The origin of the name Smokvica is not completely understood. It is understood that it might have come from the RomanRomance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
language 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...
, which means pathways. It is also possible that the name could be linked with the presence of water, due to the numerous ponds and lakes in the field of Sitnica in ancient times. Most likely the name has nothing to do with the Mediterranean fruit tree, the fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
(Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
: "smokva").
Smokvica has been inhabited since ancient times. Numerous remains of ancient ceramics have been found in the area. Mostly old Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Roman wine and olive oil vases. There are also remains of ancient Greek villas. In the Korcula Statute http://www.korculainfo.com/history/statute-korcula-town-1214.html from 1214 Smokvica is mentioned (but the earliest dated mention of Smokvica is in 1338). The Korcula Statute recommends on the defense of the old town of Korcula as well as Blato, Smokvica, Čara, Pupnat
Pupnat
Pupnat 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...
and Žrnovo
Žrnovo, Korčula
Žrnovo is a village on the island of Korčula in Croatia. Korčula is an island in the on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea and administratively belongs to the Dubrovnik–Neretva County of Croatia. It has a population of 1,308 residents...
. Smokvica along with the island of Korcula was part of the Republic of Venice
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...
(1420-1797).
On June 10, 1715, at the crack of dawn, 260 Turkish pirates in two galleys landed at Brna
Brna
Brna is a village on the southern shores of the island of Korčula in Croatia, close to the village of Smokvica, as well as Prižba and Priscapac...
, 3 miles southwest of Smokvica, and carried away 23 residents of Smokvica to be sold as slaves, along with Don Marko Bono from Zrnovo, the parish priest. Don Marko was sold as a slave in Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
for 100 sequins but was later ransomed by his relatives for 141 sequins and returned to Smokvica where he remained until his death in 1745.
Dinko Tomasic
Dinko Tomašic
Dinko Antun Tomašić was a Croatian sociologist and academic. He was born in Smokvica on the island of Korčula in Croatia. He studied law at the University of Zagreb and the University of Paris and taught in Zagreb. After his immigration to the United States ca. 1943, he became a member of the...
(1902–1975), the first Croatian sociologist, was born in Smokvica. His father Frano Tomasic Dezevic (1854–1926) was the first teacher in Smokvica.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the pastor's house was burned down during a German attack on August 7, 1944, with the loss of the parish archive dating back to 1604. A plaque in Smokvica lists the names of 43 Partisans from Smokvica who were killed in the National Liberation War, along with 16 civilians.