Stroll through the Old Town of Korcula

In todays post I will be sharing some night-time images form the old town of Korcula. It’s the main city on the same named island on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. The old city is surrounded by walls, and the streets are arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds. Korcula is tightly built on a promontory that guards the narrow sound between the island and the mainland. Building outside the walls was forbidden until the 18th century, and the wooden drawbridge was only replaced in 1863. All of Korcula’s narrow streets are stepped with the notable exception of the street running alongside the southeastern wall. The street is called the Street of Thoughts as one did not have to worry about the steps. 

The architecture of the Old Town is mainly influenced by Venetian Renaissance, although there are some fine examples of 1930’s architecture of old villas out of the Old Town. The main street runs throughout the town itself stretching from north to south, dividing the Old Town, an ellipse shape, into two equal parts. Rows of side streets that run from seashores on the West as well as on the East side of the town, meet the main street in the top of the small hill where Korcula Old Town’s main square Trg Svetog Marka and Sveti Marko Cathedral is located.

Here are the essential things to do to experience the town:

• Walk along the streets and around the town walls to orientate and experience its unique medieval urban town planning structure. 
• Visit the town’s main squares and connecting streets. Check the beauty of its towers and the main entrance.     
• Notice its most important buildings: St Mark’s Cathedral, Bishop’s treasury, Town Museum, Arneri Palace just to mention a few.     
• See and explore the town’s churches: St Peter’s, St Mihovil’s, Gospojina.    
• Stop for a lunch/coffee or refreshment in one of the Zakerjan cafe restaurants situated in the shade of pine trees overlooking the eastern side of the channel.
• Wine tasting – stop in one of the old town’s wine bars and taste samples of local wines, produced on the Island.
• In the early evening, stop somewhere on the western side of the walls to watch the sunset. The best places to do this is from either down in the Old Town’s Port (near Puntin) right next to the lighthouse or from one of the cafe/cocktail bars that are facing the west.