go to content go to search box go to global site navigation

Korčula Island

Sights in Korčula Island

  1. Marco Polo Tower

    It's said that Marco Polo was born in Korčula in 1254 and, for a small fee, you can climb the tower of the house that is supposed to have been his. A planned restoration will turn it into a museum.

    reviewed

  2. A

    St Mark's Cathedral

    St Mark's Sq (Trg Svetog Marka) is dominated by the magnificent St Mark's Cathedral. This 15th-century cathedral was built from Korčula limestone in a Gothic-Renaissance style by Italian and local artisans. Over the solemn portal, the triangular gable cornice is decorated with a two-tailed mermaid, an elephant, and other sculptures. The bell tower that rises from the cathedral over the town is topped by a balustrade and ornate cupola, beautifully carved by the Korčulan Marko Andrijić.

    The interior of the cathedral features modern sculptures in the baptistry, including a pietà by Ivan Meštrović. The ciborium was also carved by Andrijić and behind it is the altarpiece…

    reviewed

  3. B

    Abbey Treasury of St Mark

    The Abbey Treasury of St Mark in the 14th-century Abbey Palace next to the cathedral is worth a look. Past the anteroom with its collection of icons, you enter the hall of Dalmatian art with an excellent selection of 15th- and 16th-century Dalmatian paintings. The most outstanding work is the polyptych of The Virgin by Blaž Trogiranin. There are also liturgical items, jewellery, furniture and ancient documents relating to the history of Korčula.

    reviewed

  4. C

    Veliki Revelin Tower

    The entrance to the old city is through the Veliki Revelin Tower southern land gate. Built in the 14th century and later extended, the tower is adorned with coats of 0arms of the Venetian doge and Korčulan governors. There was originally a wooden drawbridge here, but it was replaced in the 18th century by the wide stone steps that give a sense of grandeur to the entrance. The only remaining part of the town walls stretch west of this tower.

    reviewed

  5. D

    Tower of the West Sea Gate

    Take a closer look at the remaining walls and towers that make the sea approach to the town particularly striking. On the western harbour the Tower of the West Sea Gate has an inscription in Latin from 1592 stating that Korčula was founded after the fall of Troy.

    reviewed

  6. E

    Icon Museum

    It isn't much of a museum, but it has some interesting Byzantine icons painted on wood on gold backgrounds, and 17th- and 18th-century ritual objects. Visitors are let into the beautiful old All Saints' Church (Crkva Svih Svetih) next door as a bonus.

    reviewed

  7. Badija Island

    In the high season, water taxis at the Jadrolinija port collect passengers for visits to various points on the island as well as Badija Island, which has a 15th-century Franciscan monastery and a naturist beach.

    reviewed

  8. F

    All Saints' Church

    This 18th-century baroque church features a carved and painted 15th-century rood screen and a wooden late-18th-century pietà besides a wealth of local religious paintings.

    reviewed

  9. G

    Governor's Towers

    The conical Large Governor's Tower (1483) and the Small Governor's Tower (1449) protected the harbour and the Governor's Palace, which used to stand next to the town hall.

    reviewed

  10. H

    Arneri Palace

    Notice the elegantly ornamented Arneri Palace next door to the Town Museum and extending west down the narrow street of the same name.

    reviewed

  11. Advertisement

  12. St Mark's Square

    Most sightseeing is centred on St Mark's Sq, dominated by the magnificent St Mark's Cathedral.

    reviewed

  13. I

    Abbey Treasury of St Mark

    The Abbey Treasury of St Mark in the 14th-century Abbey Palace next to the cathedral is worth a look. Past the anteroom with its collection of icons, you enter the hall of Dalmatian art with an excellent selection of 15th- and 16th-century Dalmatian paintings. The most outstanding work is the polyptych of The Virgin by Blaž Trogiranin. There are also liturgical items, jewellery, furniture and ancient documents relating to the history of Korčula.

    reviewed