Korčula: Encyclopedia II - Korčula - Heritage

Korčula - Heritage

The walled old city, with streets arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds, is tightly built on a promontory that guards the narrow sound between the island and the mainland. Building outside the walls was forbidden until the 18th century, and the wooden drawbridge was only replaced in 1863. All of Korčula's narrow streets are stepped with the notable exception of the street running alongside the southeastern wall, called Street of thoughts as one did not have to worry about the steps. The town includes several interesting historic sights: the central Roman Catholic cathedral of St Mark (built from 1301 to 1806), the 15th-century Franciscan monastery with its beautiful Venetian Gothic cloister, the civic council chambers, the palace of the former Venetian governors, grand 15th and 16th century palaces of the local merchant nobles, and the massive city fortifications.

The devout people of Korčula keep alive old folk church ceremonies and a war game(moreška), once (in the middle ages) performed all over the Mediterranean.

The city is notable for its Statute dating back to 1214 which prohibited slavery, making Korčula the first place in the world to outlaw that practice.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Heritage", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki