Panorama taken of the bay on the western side of the old town of Korcula in Croatia. This image shows the Medieval town still lit by the last rays of sun late in the afternoon, with the hills of the Peljesac Peninsula across the straits in the distance. Virtual tour taken September 2011.

Korcula Harbour and Medieval City - Korcula Island visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Korcula Harbour and Medieval City' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Dubrovnik-Neretva.

Korcula is the sixth largest island in the Adriatic. The island is largely covered with Mediterranean flora including extensive pine forests. The highest peaks are Klupca, 568m (1,864 ft) and Kom, 510m (1,670 ft) high.

The main coastal towns are Korčula, Vela Luka and Blato and in the interior Žrnovo, Pupnat, Smokvica and Čara. The coastal villages (Brna, Lumbarda, RačiÅ¡će, Zavalatica, Prižba and Prigradica) offer a quieter get away. It is easy to travel between places as the main road connects all settlements from Lumbarda in the east to Vela Luka in the west. RačiÅ¡ċe is served by a separate road along the northern coast.

The island has a rich history that has left behind a wealth of places to visit. Following Mesolithic, Neolithic, Illyrian, Greek and Roman settlement, the island came under Byzantine rule in the 6th century and then Venetian control in the 10th. The island boasts a very old Stonemasonry tradition which peaked under the years of Venetian rule (1420-1797).

The old harbour walls and Zakerjan Tower in Korcula Old Town form part of this Venetian history.

The town is a medieval walled city built on a promontory in the Peljesac Channel. The city layout is a succession of narrow streets that branch off the spine of the main street like a fish bone. This design reduces the effects of wind and sun, providing a sheltered environment for its citizens. All bar one of these narrow streets are stepped - The Street of Thoughts runs along the south eastern side of the town - so named as one did not have to concentrate on steps when walking here.

Korcula is notable for a Town Statute from 1214 prohibiting slavery, making it the first place in the world to outlaw the practice.

Harbour Walls
Korcula Old Town
Korcula
Croatia

Bus: Regular long distance buses from Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Sarajevo, Vela Luka and Beograd. Local buses serve the rest of Korčula island.
Ferry: Regular ferries from Rijeka, Split, Hvar, Mljet, Drvenik, Dubrovnik, Vela Luka and Stari Grad.
Flight: Split Airport and Dubrovnik Airport followed by ferry transfer.
Car: Korcula town is near the eastern end of Korcula island, about 43Km from Vela Luka and 25 km from Smokvica. It is 6km north of Lumbarda.