CROATIA PHOTO JOURNAL, PART 2: Washing Ashore in Korcula

From the ancient city and Roman ruins of Split, which you can read about in Part One of my Croatian photo journal, our Insight Vacations group made its way along the Dalmatian Coast to the enchanting island of Korčula, the only island in the country that is solely accessible by ferry. Originally settled between the 10^th and fifth millennia BC, Korčula is almost as rich in history as the surrounding Adriatic is with fish and we were sure to sample both as we stepped off the ferry onto one of the most picturesque and historic island getaways you’ll ever find.

Scroll through the pages that follow for all of the pictures from the second leg of our trip.

The View

The Old City

A short stroll down the hill from our hotel toward the Old City brings me to the base of the 13^th century Veliki Revelin Tower, the southern entrance to the historic island centre. A climb up the stairs and beneath the tower, inscribed with the winged lion symbol of St. Mark, leads visitors into a labyrinth of centuries-old sun-drenched streets, lined with houses and churches and local shops. If you follow some long enough you’ll find yourself in a town square, where you can sip coffee, enjoy an authentic meal or snap a few pics. Other streets lead you down to the edge of the island, where stunning views of a different variety await.

The Coast

There isn’t a spot along Korčula’s beautiful coast that doesn’t stop travellers in their tracks, whether you’re walking the island, taking a cycling tour or preparing to dive into the Adriatic for an afternoon snorkel. Two of my favourite coastal locales, however, bookend the Old City. Above, a shot of the harbor and picturesque promenade lined with palm trees and benches, taken from the rooftop of a Korčulan home. And below, on the coast outside of the island’s ancient ramparts, you can catch a glimpse of the mountains that lay just a skip across the sea. Oh, and that guard tower on the wall? Yeah, that’s now a bar. So head up there and toast some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.

War and Peace

From the Romans to the Venetians to the Hungarians, French and the Italians again, Korčula has a history of being conquered over the centuries. And with it’s beauty and position along the Adriatic trade route, it’s not difficult to understand why. It hasn’t always been easy for the island to maintain its independence, but the cannons that line the side of the island that faces the wide-open sea are remnants of a time when Korčula fought back.

Faces in the Architecture

In many ways, Korčula boasts an almost monastic aesthetic – humble, not overtly flashy or extravagant. There are no Eiffel Tower or Coliseum-like attractions here. In fact, truth be told, the streets are rather simple. It’s a tourist haven but also home to folks who live in the heart of the Old City. There’s laundry hanging from windows in public squares, kids playing in the streets and locals around every corner. In many ways this historic Old City retains the feel of a rural village. And yet, if you look for it, you’ll find faces in the architecture — even looking down on you from the underside of a balcony — and the remains of stunning architecture that reminds visitors of both the history, and the elegance, that this island offers.

The Food

The Final Lap

Like seemingly every locale along the Dalmatian Coast, it’s so difficult to pack up and move on. After all, with the unmatched scenery, centuries of history and bountiful seafood dishes, what place could top Korčula? I wasn’t convinced that anywhere else in Croatia could, but when I heard that we were travelling next to the city known as “the Jewel of the Adriatic” I had a feeling we were in for a treat …