History of Korčula – Discover Its Rich Cultural Heritage

The first colony on Korčula was established in the 6th century BC with the arrival of the Dorians from Knidos on the island. Although Pseudo Skylox and Strabo from the 1st century BC provide the first accounts of the settlement, its exact location is still uncertain. Some authors believe it was between Potirna and Vela Luka on the western part of the island, others in Lumbarda, but most likely in the area of today’s town of Korčula.

The oldest traces of habitation on the island date back to the Neolithic, as confirmed by numerous archaeological finds. The most significant finds come from the Vela Cave near Vela Luka and Jakas Cave south of Postrana (Žrnovo). Artifacts suggest that the first inhabitants came from the nearby mainland, while pottery indicates connections with Sicily and southern Italy.

Numerous fortifications and tumuli from the mid-second millennium BC mark the period of Illyrian settlement. In the 4th century BC, Greek colonists from the island of Vis (Issa) founded a settlement in Lumbarda, as confirmed by an inscription found on Koludrt.

The collapse of Greek colonies led to strong migrations of Illyrians from the nearby mainland. During the Roman rule, the island became increasingly populated, and the Romans tried to Romanize the Illyrians. With the arrival of the Slavs on the Balkans in the 7th century, their tribal unions settled along the coast between Cetina and Neretva, and in the 10th century the Slavs arrived on Korčula.

Throughout history, Korčula had many rulers. In 1000, Venetian Doge Pietro II Orseolo conquered Korčula, and later it was under the rule of Hungarian-Croatian kings, Venetians, Bosnia, and even the Republic of Dubrovnik. The Statute of 1214, preserved in the edition of 1265, regulated the relations of the island's inhabitants and set numerous provisions concerning shipbuilding, agriculture, and trade. From 1420 to 1797, Korčula was part of the Republic of Venice, enjoying a certain degree of autonomy.

After the fall of the Venetian Republic, the island came under the rule of Austria, France, Russia, and England. From 1918 to 1921, Korčula was under Italian rule and then became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.

After the establishment of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia following World War II, Korčula became part of the People’s Republic of Croatia. During the Homeland War in the 1990s, the island made a significant contribution by hosting thousands of refugees and participating in the defense of Croatia.

Today, Korčula enjoys freedom and sovereignty as part of the Republic of Croatia, continuing its rich history and tradition.