“It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville

One of the oldest urban settlements has often proven its progressive spirit seen perhaps best in its statute from 1214. regulating every aspect of island life and inspiring other towns and states to do the same. Positioned on a vital sea route, it has embraced great travelers as well as witnessed significant historical events such as 1298 naval battle between the Venetians and the Genovese where the latter not only won but captured Marco Polo of a local Polo family. The rest is history...

Said even to be founded by a Trojan hero Antenor, the town of Korcula was built on an rock whose fortified walls used to protect the inhabitants from any conqueror, and stormy winds in winter months while the layout of streets in the structure of fishbone allowed summer breeze to cool it down and served in fact as air-conditioning. Palaces, churches, towers, houses made of local and high quality stone have mainly withstood the time test. Little allies bare in winter and pulsing with life in the season are ideal labyrinth whether to lose or find a family-run restaurant, an interesting company or a secret corner away from public eyes – just like it used to be for centuries.

The interaction of the town with the sea is still there after many centuries and changes. Boats still sail these waters (they are just faster), locals still go fishing, children play and swim in the beaches. And (for good or bad) the tourism, although in expansion, has spared Korcula crowds you encounter on daily basis in say, Hvar or particularly Dubrovnik.

There is something special about this place – we encourage you to discover it.

Imagine Brazil without rainforest or Arizona without the Grand Canyon and you will understand what this little group of islands means to the area stretching between Korcula, Lumbarda and Peljesac. There is nearly twenty of them, each one with a different story, some being nothing more than just a slightly bigger rock, while others, more significant ones, tell us tales from the past and amaze those who choose to absorb what it was, is, and perhaps will be taking place there.

Frequented by travelers and locals seeking their holiday, an occasional retreat, or just a dose of a getaway from the town, these „skoji” – the islets, are but a gift of nature to Korcula and its people not only for swimming and snorkeling in secluded pebble beaches, but as the source of life too – fishermen and their boats are still a very common sight together with seagulls faithfully and skillfully following the action always in search of an easy morsel.

The monastery on Badija and its surroundings were used for military hospital, school, world-class philosophic gatherings, sports camps and local festivities. Ancient Romans built villa rustica on Majsan, used to take supreme quality stone on Vrnik thus starting tradition to last for centuries.

The archipelago might have welcomed Trojan hero Antenor and even seen Odysseys being washed away on a beach in Lumbarda, but it definitely witnessed Marco Polo being captured in the massive naval battle between the Genovese and Venetians, not to mention infamous pirates’ visits to the area.

Since the strait of Peljesac usually gets windy in the afternoon it is a great sailors‘ playground, not to mention wind and kite surfers whose acrobatics in the area have already become legendary, while morning hours favor sea kayaking gliding over smooth sea surface at moments almost resembling a lake. As you sail, surf or paddle the views constantly change, perspective alters only to enhance the overall feeling by adding it more value.

Blessed with a mix of mild Mediterranean and almost subtropical climate, Korcula is warmer than any of the Dalmatian islands north of it. This is mostly evident between December and March when there is no need for heavy winter clothes with average temperature in January and February of 9°C (equivalent of 48°F). Lush vegetation of a very dark green appearance from distance is why the Greeks called it Korkyra Melaina – black or dark Korcula.

Centuries later a famous island’s winemaker Luka Krajancic called it „dark island of white wines“. The wines of Korcula have deserved a high place and separate chapter in the story of the island – dominant white grape sorts of Posip, Rukatac and Grk or red Plavac in the right winemakers' hands can turn into an experience equal to discovering well-kept secrets guarded by a mysterious order.

Inhabited for millennia even before the Illyrians, colonized by Greeks, exploited by Romans, Venetians, French, Austrians and such, Korcula has given archeologists and mythologists more than enough material to study its real and imaginary past, whether it’s antic quarries on Vrnik islet or Vela spila cave near Vela Luka town where based on what we've known so far people lived there for no less than 20000 years!!

The inhabitants have adapted numerous times over millennia, learned to live with the gifts of the nature, or to become highly skillful stonemasons and shipbuilders. Their sword-dance companies around the islands towns and villages remind us to this day of turbulent times their ancestors lived through. History and culture have not been shy here.

The Mediterranean is to be felt on every corner of it – fields, agriculture, pebble beaches, hidden thickets, stone houses, dry walls, hard-to-find springs, summer breeze, local mentality, mixing of wine and water (not with best wines though), self-sustainable community, great singing and a legendary sense of humor...

Relatively good connections (in the season) to the mainland and the island of Hvar make Korcula accessible more than ever in the recent history, as well as an excellent base camp for reaching more remote islands of Mljet, Lastovo and few other places too, but we won't reveal everything here and now!

How great and diverse is Korcula outdoors? Well, to start with, it's lacking rivers, lakes and waterfalls. But if you're seeking fresh air hiking high up the mountain trails in the shade of black pines or fairies’ spring hidden in a lost Mediterranean garden of Dalmatian oak, fern and moss you're on the same page with us.

If you find vines growing in sandy soil special while biking around them with a possibility of swimming on a great beach this is the place for you.

Does sea kayaking in crystal clear water around scattered little islands sound inviting? With an option to snorkel, sunbathe and doze off under a pine tree after good round of paddling…

Would you be ready to swim between those islets and then walk on the rocks only to get to the next pebble beach to launch yourself once more into the sea?

And what about rock climbing in an ambience of green fields and old villages whose inhabitants have for centuries lived from what was in their environment that we today cherish so much as the legacy we were given to preserve.

Little villages and dirt roads, single tracks, hilltops, beaten and less beaten trails winding up and down ready to amaze you just around a corner, gorgeous archipelago connecting historical Korcula town, spread out Lumbarda village and a mountain above Orebic town on Peljesac peninsula towering a kilometar as if rising perpendicularly from the sea.

And all of this is pretty much accessible and at the same time more than spacious enough to enable you to plunge yourself into those parts of the area you choose and momentarily forget the rest of the world.