Marco's House, Korcula

 

If there was a Hollywood setting for a mystical kingdom, they might do well to check out Korcula, Croatia. It's on the Island of Korcula just across the water and another island and some more water ...from the mainland of Croatia.

                     

Like all towns and cities along this coast, it has a long history filled with Romans and Venetians and Hapsburgs and empires and ocean going trade.

Just south is Greece and due west across the Adriatic is Italy...hence the Roman and Venetian connections.

         

The best of what this city has to offer is the labyrinth of streets and shops throughout the walled city and port

               

Walk along the streets and the stones have felt the shoes and feet of the population since the 11th century or more.

                   

No doubt, much of the city fell into disrepair and was attacked and the forces of nature took their toll. But it has been built and rebuilt and today it's red tiled roofs give it a striking image from the sea.

     

The great explorer Marco Polo is reputed and reported as a resident here back in the 1200's before he accompanied his father and uncle on some journeys. Later he struck out on his own....to China and beyond.

There is a small museum/house of his. I always take these actual sites with a grain of salt, but it gave us a small glimpse of the style of homes in the city hundreds of years ago.

Climb the cramped wooden stairs to the tower at the top of his house .....

         

....For a view of the mainland across the water. Or just look around at the rest of the city from high above.

      

And yet, the city remains charming and full of history. I would recommend that one comes after the summer crowds and explores perhaps on a rainy day as we did in the morning. You will get to see all the streets, alleys and stairs.

                 

In the sunlight, the ancient abides,

           

Along with the faithful in the church in the early morning.

                    
We took the time in the rain to walk along the water north and gaze back at the city.

           

It's a remarkable area.

                         

          

                             

Peace,  Bob














Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wrap Up for Croatia 2017

Image
Time to wrap up everything and though I may not have the most comprehensive list of remembrances....here is what I've learned. Best Wall That's an easy one. Everyone whom I know who has visited Croatia has gone to Dubrovnik. I guess the Cruise Ships stop there and so it's popular ... And everyone said that I must walk the Ancient City Wall. They were right. It takes in a mile or more and is straight out of a Hollywood adventure movie. Is that really the color of the Adriatic?   Yes it is...at least it is in Sobra on the Island of Mljet. Every morning we would see this very old couple get in this boat and go out to sea or some other island and return in the evening with fish.....and several bags of cut tree branches and logs. The bags would then set on the stairs near our house...and then disappear. It may have been mysterious or it may have been kindling for the wood fired ovens of the restaurants.         The above view from our Air BnB room in Sobra. Best view...
Read more

Around Every Corner and Canal - Venice

Image
I've had many people comment that Venice is on their wish list; their bucket list; and being an expert on the city after 48 hours I can say that Venice definitely is not what people say or wish for....it is more; much more. The first two photos on today's blog illustrate my point. Top Photo:  notice the small things like the brass door handle on some random door in some random backstreet. Second Photo: notice the grander than grand moments like the sun rising on the Grand Canal with the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute beside it. I stood on the stairs of the big bridge Ponte dell'Accademia.....competing with about 10 photographers who had huge cameras and tripods all set to capture the sun coming over the canal and Basilica (and a cruise ship that cruised into the picture). I had a backpack and an IPhone ........and you get what you see above. I keep seeing much of Venice through the lens of a pastor who has a calling to a church and that church continually (and wonderf...
Read more

The Brothers Valeri (From the Roman Period) Istrian Peninsula

Image
I have no idea who the Brothers Valeri were but they were perched on the all of building next to a church in Buje, Croatia where I went today. They are depicted in their senatorial robes from the Roman Empire days around here. It's things like this that keep you guessing when wandering around a town. In America we'll get a monument to a war 50 or 150 years ago. In Croatia, you get artwork from the period of say, 300 AD just strewn around the towns I planned to rent a car and go to some of the inland small fortress towns. Unfortunately, this being a Sunday and this being a very rainy Sunday....I had the same idea as everyone south of the Swiss Alps. Plus, there was a cross country bike race and when the bikes descend from a mountain road and onto the "main" highway.....everything stops. Everything.                     I've enjoyed the smaller towns. Yesterday I was in Poreč, just north of Rovinj where I am staying for a few days. After th...
Read more