Gabrielis Palace

The town museum is located in Gabrielis Palace, which is an outstanding example of 15th and 16th c. residential architecture in the centre of the old town.
The exhibits evoke the cultural and commercial milestones of Korčula from prehistory to the present. The collections explain traditional crafts; in particular, stonemasonry and shipbuilding which were of essential importance to Korcula. Among the most valuable exhibits are the bronze pendant of Tiziano Aspetti and an 1819 piano played by Beethoven's close friend, Edith Streicher.
Household objects help to explain everyday life. The old kitchen in the attic makes for a memorable experience.

ST. MARK

St. Mark's Cathedral is the most attractive Gothic and Renaissance building in the old town of Korčula. It was built by local stonemasons in the 14th, 15th and 16th c. with the support of Italian masters. The most famous local stonemason was Marko Andrijić whose masterpieces are in the upper part of the bell-tower and the ciborium above the high altar in the central nave, dedicated to St. Mark, the patron saint of Korčula.
The Gothic and Romanesque main portal was built by the Italian master, Bonino da Milano.
The southern lateral nave is dedicated to St. James, while the northern one is to St. John, with the adjacent St. Rocco chapel.

MARCO POLO

It is believed that the greatest traveller and explorer of all time, Marco Polo, was born in Korčula in 1254.
On 07th September 1298, the great naval battle between the Genoese and the Venetian armadas took place in front of the town of Korčula.
The Venetians were defeated and the Genoese imprisoned, among whom was Marco Polo, who was freed on payment of a large ransom in 1299.
In a Genoese prison, Marco Polo dictated his experiences about his journey to China to Rustichelli. These journeys are described in the book “Il Milione”. Marko Polo died in Venice in 1324.

ABBEY TREASURY

Next to St. Mark’s Cathedral, there is a former bishop's court where the Abbey Treasury is now housed, established by Abbot Ivo Matijaca and the Croatian painter Ljubo Babić in 1954. The earlier bishop's court from the 14th and 15th centuries was reconstructed between 1860 and 1874.
In this famous museum of religious art, there are many invaluable works by Venetian and Croatian artists.
The most significant work is the polyptych "Our Lady With Child and Saints" from 1431 by the Dalmatian painter Blaž Jurjev Trogiranin (? -1450), the most significant name in Dalmatian Gothic art. He resided in Korčula from 1431 until 1435 creating paintings for Korčula churches and teaching drawing and painting. In the wall cabinets, there are numerous documents and books which speak about Korčula’s and Croatia’s distant past.

ICON COLLECTION

The Church (and Brotherhood) of All Saints was built at the beginning of the 15th century in place of an older church (10th c/13th c.) The oldest Korčula brotherhood of All Saints or the Brotherhood of Good Death was founded there in 1301.
Icons from the Greek island of Crete are exhibited in the Icon Collection. Korčula galleys took part in the war between Venice and the Turks for the island of Crete (Candia wars). The war ended with the defeat of Venice and the general evacuation of the Venetian garrison, administration and priests from the island.

GREAT REVELIN

The Revelin Tower from 1485 protects the area between the Arsenal and the Land Gate Tower.
The Arsenal of 1572 was built at a time when the importance of Korčula for the Venetian Republic was growing. In the 18th century, Venice wintered its fleet in Korčula.
Above the entrance to the Land Gate, there are two symbols marking Korčula's history: a bas-relief with the winged lion of St. Mark, a symbol of the reign of the Venetian Republic and a stone tablet commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of the first Croatian king, Tomislav.

ST. MICHAEL

St. Michael's church is situated on Antun and Stjepan Radić Square, facing the Town Hall. It is documented at the beginning of the 15th c. and came under the patronage of the Fraternity of the Virgin of Consolation, founded in 1603.
During the 17th and 18th c., the church acquired its baroque appearence and the chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Consolation was added at the end of the 19th c. The high altar from the 18th c. has a painting by Domenico Maggiotto, depicting the Virgin of Consolation.

OF OUR LADY

This little church is located opposite the St Mark’s Cathedral. The church was built in 1483, celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
The local noble families Gabrielis and Ismaelis used it as a private chapel.
Gravestones decorated with coats of arms from several medieval Korcula families are set in the floor.
It is believed that the tomb of the priest Antun Rozanovic, who led the defence of Korčula from an Ottoman assault in 1571 is also in this church. Resplendent mosaics behind the altar were created by the Dutch artist Louis Schrikkela from 1964-67.

ST PETER'S

This humble little Gothic church, located next to the Cathedral dates back to 14th century. It is said to be one of the oldest churches in the Old Town.
The interior of the Church is rather plain, but there are 12 wooden statues of apostles, placed along the wall. St. Peter's statue is on the altar. These wooden pieces were created by the Venetian artist Francesco Terilli. The floor contains gravestones.

ST. ANTHONY

St. Anthony’s is half an hour's walk from the centre of Korčula, towards Lumbarda. As well as of religious interest, it is a protected area of natural beauty.
There are 102 steps to the top, bordered by a cypress alley planted in 1708. The summit is crowned by a small 14th c. church dedicated to St. Anthony the Abbot.
During Bishop Španić's time, at the end of the 17th c., the church was renovated and was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padova. On the wall of the small neighbouring house, there are reliefs of St. Anthony who is celebrated on 13th June.

MAKSIMILIJAN VANKA

MAXIMILIAN VANKA (1889-1963) Croatian painter - celebrated as the finest Croatian portraitist in the 1920's and 1930's.
The collection of Maksimilijan Vanka, along with his house and studio in Korčula, were donated to the Academy of Science and Arts in 1964 by his widow, Margaret Stettin Vanka.
The villa contains the Memorial Collection and was opened to the public in 1969. Vanka is an important name in modern Croatian art. He was a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts and a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, until his departure to the United States in 1934.
The collection of Maksimilijan Vanka in Korčula presents a cross-section of his work from the 1920s.

KORČULA WOODEN SHIPBUILDING

The exhibition "KORČULA WOODEN SHIPBUILDING" by Dušan Kalogjera, also the author of the book "Korčula shipbuilding" (winner of the J. J. Strossmayer-HAZU award) and book "Korčula sailing ships in the 19th century" and the director of the Korčula Culture Center, Lana Filippi Brkić was opened on July 23, 2022 in Korčula's Loggia, a new gallery of the Town of Korčula. The exhibition shows a section of Korčula's wooden shipbuilding through history and it is divided into several areas: the history of shipbuilding from the 13th century, shipyards, sailing ships, types of ships, boat figures, shipbuilders, motorboats, tools and documents.
All texts are at the same time also translated into English.

IVAN VIDALI

The Town Library is a cultural and informational centre of Town of Korčula offering access to knowledge, information and cultural content.

KORČULA

Korčula Culture Centre offers a congress hall and cinema with 350 seats (theatre style) and atrium for 50 persons (theatre style). The Culture centre organises theatre plays, concerts and various cultural events throughout a year.