"SILENT ECHOES OF TURBULENT PAST" a Korcula Travel Page by KristaB

Greeks named this island Korykira Melania, in 4th century b.c.
Then Romans came and named it Korykira Nigra - because of its dense forests.
Korykira slowly evolved into Korcula (korchula).

Overlooking the sea passage between island Korcula and Peljesac peninsula, this small fortified town played rather important strategic role in this part of the Adriatic.
Many powerful forces were fighting to take over Korcula - Venetians and Genovesi, Turks, later also Austrians, French, Russians and English.
The most famous battle in this area was sea battle between Genoan and Venetian forces - 180 galleys clashed here in 1298. Genoa won, and Marco Polo was taken to Venice as a prisoner. During his captivity he narrated his stories of Far East explorations, which made him famous all over Europe.

The town is densely built with the grid of streets that resemble fish bone pattern. Buildings are predominantly of Gothic and Renaissance style, with some Baroque ones from 17th and 18th century.

The people of Korcula were excellent stonemasons, seafarers and shipbuilders - their skills were respected all over Adriatic area and further.
Dense forests provided excellent wood for ships and wine barrels - production of wine is another tradition of island Korcula. There are numerous gardens and olive orchards, unfortunately some were destroyed in recent fires.

Their shipbuilding tradition is impressive - for those of you who love sea and ships here is the link to one very interesting site about Korcula shipbuilders:
http://www.korcula.net/history/shipbuilding.htm