Korcula
Croats are proud that the great traveler Marco Polo was born in Croatia on the island of Korcula. This is one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia, with centuries-old pine forests and lush Mediterranean vegetation that completely covers the island. The sandy beaches of the island are located in quiet, calm coves. According to petwithsupplies, Korcula is one of the largest cities in Croatia.
The hot summer here softens the sea wind, creating ideal conditions for windsurfing. Fans of sports and outdoor activities will be able to take part in competitions of tennis players and yachtsmen. Most hotels and campsites have sports grounds for playing volleyball and basketball.
In addition, it is on Korcula that the famous Croatian white wines “Grk” and “Poship” are made.
Phone numbers
8-10-385-20-phone number
How to get to Korcula
The island can be reached by direct bus from Zagreb (journey time 10 hours), Dubrovnik (branded bus Korčula Bus, travel time about 3 hours), Split, Sarajevo.
The ferry service is operated by Jadrolinija. Every 20-30 minutes, regular ferries depart from the town of Korcula to mainland Orebic. Long-distance ferries link Split with Vela Luka (150 HRK), Dubrovnik with Korcula (130 HRK), Rijeka with the island (ferry Marko Polo, travel time 10 hours), Italian city of Bari with the island (ferry Marko Polo, travel time 12 hours).
Also, the high-speed catamaran Krilo departs daily at 6:00 am from Korcula to Split, calling at the village of Prigraditsa on the northern tip of the island and on the island of Hvar. Return departure along the route Split – Korcula at 16:00-17:00 (journey time 2.5 hours).
Prices on the page are for July 2021.
Buses
The main public transport on the island is the bus. It runs from Korcula to Vela Luka about 8 times a day (from 4:10 to 19:00, 50 minutes on the way) and from Korcula to Lumbarda (once an hour).
Entertainment and attractions of Korcula
The central part of the city of Korcula is formed by the old castle, the basis of which is the Cathedral of St. Mark.
The main attractions of the island are the monastery sacristy, the exhibition of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Jacopo Tintoretto, a rich collection of icons.
“Moreska” is a knightly dance of the 15th century, which used to be popular throughout the Mediterranean, but today it is preserved only in the city of Korcula. As a matter of fact, this is not just a dance, but a real performance, during which the armies of white (good) and black (guess which) kings fight for the love of a girl. During the summer, “Moreška” is staged in Korčula on a weekly basis.
Hum
Hum with its 17 inhabitants is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest city in the world. This smallest city in the world is located in the heart of Istria. It is part of the Buzet district, and 14 km from the city of Buzet.
How to get there
Huma can be reached by car, sightseeing bus or on foot, as many tourists do for the purpose of sightseeing and enjoying the beautiful scenery. The most interesting road to Hum is, of course, the so-called “Alley of the Glagolitic”, stretching from Rocha to Hum, along the entire length of which there are large monument stones in the fields along the sides, each of which represents one letter from the Glagolitic alphabet. Hum has been one of the most famous verb centers since the 11th century. The Glagolitic alphabet was also used here at the beginning of the 20th century. Currently, writing in the Glagolitic alphabet is presented in Hum and its surroundings on ancient monuments and during various modern events.
History of Huma
Hum got its modern look in the Middle Ages, more precisely in the 11th century. It was then that the Khum castle was built on the ruins of an ancient fortress, and near it the first row of houses of the future town. At that time, Istria was part of a large French kingdom. Count Ulrich I built and renovated a number of castles on the border lines of his possession, including this one in Hum. In 1102, Ulrich II gives Hum and several other castles into the possession of the Aquillian patriarch. The deed contains the following name of the city “castrum Cholm” (according to the ancient Croatian word Chlm). This document is the first written mention of Huma in his long history. Until the 17th century, Hum was referred to in historical documents as “castrum”, which means “fortress” in translation.
Entertainment and attractions in Huma
Today, Hum is a monumental city and one of the rare well-preserved examples of a city whose development took place exclusively within the early medieval walls. From the beginning of its foundation to the present moment, practically nothing has been built in Hum outside the city, the population has remained to live within the boundaries established in the early Middle Ages.
In Hum, frescoes created in the second half of the 12th century are perfectly preserved. At that time, Hum belonged to the Aquillian dynasty, which, most likely, ordered their production. The author of these frescoes is unknown, but his skill testifies to us that this is a high-class professional, whose creations cannot be compared with any others both in Istria and in its neighboring regions. The frescoes are made in the spirit of the romantic West and, at the same time, under the influence of Byzantine art. In the Romanesque chapel of St. Hierolim at the Khumi cemetery, some very old wall paintings of high quality have also been partially preserved.
