Seaview Apartment Marina

Island of Korčula in Croatia, 7 kilometers away from the town of Korčula. A road passing through a picturesque area of pine woods and olive groves connects these two places. Lumbarda is surrounded by sandy vineyards (famous white wine “Grk” produced from the native grape of the same name) and sandy beaches such as Vela Pržina, Bilin Žal and Tatinja. Lumbarda is a tourist centre, many of its 1200  inhabitants are active in the local tourist service (private accommodation, tourist excursion to islands Mljet and Lastovo and around islands of Korčula archipelago, scuba diving exursions etc.) but they are also wine-growers, fishermen and stone-dressers. Lumbarda has a rich history preserved in written documents dating back to more than two thousand years ago.

Throughout its history, Lumbarda was a region combining various nations and cultures. Based on current research, the first inhabitants were the Illyrians, ruling the island during the Bronze and Iron Age. Their artifacts can be found in the graves and strategic stone stacks, concentrated primarily on the western areas of Lumbarda.

With the intrusion of Greek interests on the Adriatic, the island relinquished its historical obliviousness becoming known as Korkyra Melaina (black). The region was of great importance to the Greeks, establishing two settlements on the Black Korkiri. The later settlement was founded in the 3rd century in Lumbarda. The most renown and significant Antic stone inscriptions found in the Republic of Croatia give witness to this historical event.

The Lumbarda Psephisma is kept in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb. The decree details the particular details surrounding the establishment of the colony. The text, amongst other things, provides information on the Greeks from the island of Issa (today Vis) establishing the settlement on the basis of a prior agreement with the representatives of the local Illyrii, Pil and his son Daz. The Lumbarda Psephisma was discovered on the top of the hill Koludrt, where the Issian town most likely once stood. Somewhat south, in the Sutivan area, is located the necropolis colony from which originate Greek vases, now kept in the Korčula Town Museum.

The Greek colony designated the beginning of the end of the Illyrian era on Korčula, but their real downfall occurred during the invasion by theRoman Emperor Octavian in 35 B.C. Very soon following this dramatic event, the first Roman families arrived on the island. One of these families owned a spacious villa dating back to the first century, and located in Knežina region in the Lumbardian Veli area. Other than the building’s total area, it is particularly significant due to the way it was built – made of small pyramidal blocks placed in a slanted net. The technique is opus reticulatum, typical for the Roman regions in Italy, hence the Lumbardian villa is a unique case on the eastern Adriatic coast. The significant Roman remains are also to be found in the Koludrt and Sutivan regions. In the later, a thermal facility belonging to a smaller settlement with a respective necropolis was discovered. Furthermore, in the Lumdardian aquarium there is evidence of a Roman quarry on the islands of Sutvara, Vrnik and Kamenjak. The latter Antic age was preserved in the region mainly through remains relating to the early Christian age. Of all the remains, the best preserved is the chapel of St. Barbara on the island of Sutvara, dating to the 6th century. In the 6th century Lumbadara came under Byzantine rule.

The lack of early Middle Ages remains gives confirms the premises that with the fall of the Antic age, Lumbarda was all but abandoned. Its name first appeared in the statute of Korčula, originally compiled in 1214. One of its provisions prohibits the permanent settlement of Lumbarda and imposes a monetary fine for those who might even want to spend the night. Consequently, it is not surprising that the only witnesses of that time are two sacral buildings, the church of St. John on Sutivan and St. Barbara on Žabnjak. The former is the oldest church in Lumbadara, since it is mentioned in 1388 as a ruin. It was renewed a few times, up until 1893 when a new church was built on its ruins. The church of St. Barbara on Žabnjak was most likely built towards the end of the 13th century, and it also was renewed: firstly in 1728, and once again towards the end of the 19th century receiving its final form.

In 1420, Korčula came under the long authority of the Venetian Republic and since then it has shared its history with Dalmatia. With the stabilization of existential circumstances began the continual settling of Lumbarda. In the 16th century, it was a formed settlement, grouped around churches built mainly on private land of the Korčulan nobles. The oldest of them all is the church of St ROK in Vela Glavica. It was probably built at the beginning of the 16th century, since its expansion is mentioned in 1561. It received its present form in 1886, while the bell-tower was erected in 1996. In the 16th century, the church of St Barthol in Vela Postrana was erected, the church of St. Peter and Paul in Vela Glavica, the church of Mary’s Visitation (Gospica) in Mala Glavica, and the church of the Holy Cross in the field. The later was renovated in 1774, while a lodge was added in 1881 so as to accommodate the increasing number of parishioners, during the expansion of the main church in Vela Glavica.

The parish of Lumbarda, founded in the 16th century, is first mentioned in 1612, at the diocesan synod in Korčula. The registry books originate from the same century: matrimonial from 1620, the deceased from 1635 and the baptised from 1641.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Lumbarda was the countryside residency for the Korčulan bishops and nobility. The first preserved summer residence belonged to the diocese and was built in the 15th century, in the cove of Bilin žal. However, two centuries later, the countryside architecture matured and the favored regions were Tatinja and Prvi žal. At that time castles were also built, which other than business, also had a defensive function. Hence Cankin’s and Nobilo’s castles above the Tatinja cove, and the rook in the Veli poj, dominate the surroundings due to their height.

The 19th and 20th centuries were characterized by the formation of various religious, cultural and artistic associations. In 1857 the brotherhood of the Holy Sacrament was established, and later the brotherhoods of St. ROK and Our Lady of Karmen also joined. Traditional music was founded in 1929, while the church choir was formed in 1935. One of the last associations founded was the Cultural association “Ivo Lozica” (1980) and the girls church choir (1999).

In the early 20th century, two of the most recent sacral objects were erected in Lumbarda. They are the church of St. Špiridijun in the village of Javić dating back to 1900, and the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes at the base of Koludrt was built in 1922.

Žrnovska Banja is placed only 3 km and Medvinjak only 1 km distance from Korčula town centre.

Medvinjak and Žrnovska Banja are part of Žrnovo.
In this settlements are situated numerous apartments and houses for renting.
Medvinjak and Žrnovska Banja are places situated on a steep slopes overlooking the sea and are part of Žrnovo.
In Žrnovska Banja taverns offer traditional dalmatian cousine.

Following the road from Korčula town one passes trough small place Kneža situated on the sea shore.

In the attractive bay with several smaller pebble beaches and a few taverns there are many apartments, rooms and houses for renting.

The village of Račišće is situated 12 km western from the town of Korčula.

Going by road towards Račišće one passes many villas and houses for hiring to the guests.
Especially attractive are the bays of Žrnovska Banja, Vrbovica and Kneža.

The bay of Vrbovica, as well as villas, has small comfortable camps.

THE YOUNGER SETTLEMENT

Račišće is one of the younger settlements on the island as it was only inhabited at the end of the 17th century and at the beginning of the 18th century by refugees from the Makarska littoral and Herzegovina during The Venetian-Turkish wars.
In Račišće and Kneža, by the sea, several taverns offer traditional food.
The bays and wonderful natural beaches of Vaja and Samograd lie to the west of Račišće. Approach to Vaja bay is advised by boat.

“MARITIME” WAY OF LIFE

Enterprising men and women from Račišće quickly accepted the “maritime” way of life, and they were the owners of the biggest island fleet of cargo sailing boats from the end of the 19th century until 1950.

Today, the men of Račišće are either mostly maritime officers or ordinary seamen in modern ships of all flags.

OUR LADY OF CHRISTIAN AID

There is the old church of Our Lady of Christian Aid from the time of the foundation of the village (1682), and the more recent church of St. Nicolas.

The village of Žrnovo is situated 4 km away from the town of Korčula and it is a part the Korčula municipality.

Nearby there are recently grown inhabited parts located by the sea shore: Medvinjak, Žrnovska Banja, Vrbovica, Oskorušica and many bays, named «na defora» facing islands of Lastovo and Mljet.

Žrnovo is remarquably picturesque with its four hamlets Brdo, Prvo selo, Kampuš, Postrana.

BRDO, PRVO SELO, KAMPUŠ, POSTRANA

Each of them is crowned by fascinated fairy tales landscapes, rural architecture, vegetation, Significant landscape Kočje ( protected area), a number of legends and oral traditions.
Žrnovo as a whole is very suitable for touring walkers which is an excellent base for developing local gastronomy.
Patron saints: St. Antony, on June the 13th –Brdo, St. Rocco, on August the 16th –Postrana, Nativity of the Virgin Mary, on September the 8th–Prvo selo, St. Martin, on November the 11th–Kampuš.

PETAR ŠEGEDIN

Žrnovo, Postrana is Petar Šegedin’s birthplace. He has been one of the top Croatian writers from the second half of the 20th c..
Every second year a reunion «Petar Šegedin days» takes place in Korčula and Žrnovo.

Postrana preserves its sword dance «Moštra» which is performed on August the 15.th.

Moštra is accompanied by bag pipes and a drumm. After ten different dance figures with swords, the play ends in general delight and the performing of popular dances by young people.

TO REMEMBER

Particularities of the place to remember:

– Roman road and Marmont road,
– Ancient croatian wattle of the cimitery St.Vid church,
– Protected wild oak trees, Bilin kok cliff, Jakasova cave, Kočje

– «Žrnovski makaruni» – very local dish,

– Traditional gastro event «makarunada» in August;
workshop – teaching and tasting in which the locals and Korčulan guests take place.

Pupnat is the smallest and one of the oldest villages on the island of Korčula, located on the highest point of 360 m above sea level, 11 km from the town of Korčula.

Finds from Illyrian and Roman times have been found in the village.

Numerous ancient single-story houses covered by stone slabs are preserved, especially sheep and goat houses southwest of the village.