Korcula, Croatia
42 57' 44" North, 17 08' 05" East
The Endeavour docked at Korcula
We are now in the Adriatic Sea, the cleanest in Europe (due to lack of heavy industry) cruising the beautiful Dalmatian Coast.
Croatia contains about 1000 islands scattered all along the length of its coast. Korĉula is the largest island in its archipelago of about 50 islands, close to the southern coast of Croatia. It is 30 miles x 5 miles and covers 130 sq miles. The main industries for the 20,000 inhabitants are agriculture (olives, wine grapes and grains), ship-building and fishing. The main city (where we visited) is also called Korĉula.
The island was known to the Greeks, who colonized her in the 4th century BC, knew it as Black Korĉula (Korkyra Melaina) because of its dense foliage. Marco Polo, one of Venice’s heroes, was allegedly born here.
When it was captured by doge Pietro Orsielo II in 1000 A.D., the victory marked the final defeat of the Dalmatian Pirates who had ruled the Adriatic, leading the way to Venice’s domination of the sea and trade routes. Korĉula was part of the great Venetian Empire from the 14th to 18th centuries.