Things to do in Korčula town

Set bang in the centre of the Old Town, Korčula's cathedral is one of the finest examples of Dalmatian church architecture. Taking three centuries to build, it features several styles, including Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque. The luminous sandy-yellow stone of the bell-tower and facade was finally revealed in full glory in late 2013 after spending the previous two years hidden behind restoration workers' scaffolding. Inside, fifteenth-century stonemason Marko Andrijić is responsible for the canopy set on four columns above the altar, or ciborium. Beneath it is the sarcophagus of St Theodore, the protector of Korčula. Here you can also see St Mark with St Bartholomew and St Jerome, an early work by Tintoretto, whose Annunciation also stands in the south nave. Cannonballs and weapons from wars with the Ottomans are also placed here, and a 13th-century icon of the Virgin.

Next to the Cathedral, the Cathedral Treasury is much more than just a collection of priestly vestments and church silver, containing a small but really quite exciting collection of religious art through the ages. Star attraction is the altarpiece by 15th-century Dalmatian painter Blaž Jurjev, showing a tender and radiant Madonna flanked by a collection of saints. Look out too for small but exquisite alabaster panels from 15th-century Nottingham depicting the Kiss of Judas and the Flagellation of Christ; and a 19th-century statuette of Mary Queen of Scots that opens its skirts to reveal a (wholly chaste, we hasten to emphasise) diorama within.

Among all the islets in Korčula’s archipelago, Vrnik has a singularly laid-back air to it, with a town beach of small pebbles and hues so vivid you’ll have trouble deciding between taking a dip and observing the turquoise waters from the docks. Vrnik Arts Club offers great food on the tranquil terrace in front of what was once the island's school. Opened in 2018, the chef and menu have changed in two consecutive summers, but the excellent quality of the food has remained the same. The standout starters are the fried shrimp, the local hard cheese and pršut — served with melon, candied almonds and olives — as well as the swordfish ceviche. Among the mains, fresh traditional seafood dishes, some with atypical sides, pastas, and heartier meat options all live up to the setting. While some patrons stay for dessert, others opt for another swim or a round of the boules game to the left of the town church, before boarding their vessels and leaving for the day. Much to the joy of fortunate visitors, the church occasionally hosts choir and classical music concerts in the evenings. 

Set in the 16th-century Gabrielis palace, this small but highly entertaining museum proudly unveiled its new English-language labelling in 2013. Pride of place on the ground floor belongs to ceramics dredged up from ancient Greek and Roman shipwrecks. There is also a replica of a fourth-century Greek tablet from Lumbarda, announcing the establishment of a Greek colony on the island. Among the knick-knacks upstairs are furnishings through the ages, photographs of World War II Partisans, and a reconstruction of a traditional Korčulan kitchen on the top floor – in the old days, it was common for kitchens to be situated up here in the attic.

Moro Beach Bar at the tiny Stupe, run by the same people as Vrnik Arts Club on Vrnik/Skoj, has been one of Korčula archipelago’s highlights both for visitors and sailing regulars. The sea around Stupe is astoundingly clear and its colours vary wildly between the surrounding islets, while the imposing peaks of Pelješac in the distance add to the dramatic landscape. Beach hoppers delight in the wine from Korčula, to the right of the isle, or Pelješac, to the left, and the concoctions of the skilled bartenders, who deftly prepare drinks to the pitter-patter of electronic beats. Unexpectedly for a lively beach bar, the food here is genuinely good, offering classic Dalmatian snacks of high quality as well as more ambitious dishes, such as the gnudi and homemade pastas. As the sun descends, the few who remain have the spot to themselves, and the atmosphere is complemented marvellously by the sounds of the '80s and '90s.

The Memorial Collection of Maksimilijan Vanka, on the waterfront near the Monastery of St Nicholas, shows the art nouveau and Expressionist works by this 20th-century painter and hosts temporary exhibitions by renowned Croatian artists throughout the summer.

This modern multimedia attraction retraces the travels of Marco Polo using dioramas and lifelike dummies clad in medieval costume. With near life-size camels, monkeys and Chinese emperors, it's visually very effective indeed. Pick up the headphone audio guide and follow the story.

Korčula’s claimed connection with famed traveller Marco Polo is not as tenuous as you might think. The man who travelled along the Silk Road to Kublai Khan’s China was born around 1254, possibly here, perhaps on the mainland in Šibenik, or in Venice. Polo certainly fought for the Venetians in the famous Battle of Korčula in 1298. He was captured by the Genoese and during his imprisonment dictated his famous memoirs to a literate fellow inmate. Indeed, DePolo has for centuries been a common family name here. The house frequently shown to tourists as Marco Polo’s birthplace is actually a 17th-century structure said to be built on the site of his former home – that shouldn’t take the romance out of what remains a plausible story.

Two kilometres southeast of Korčula town centre, the pudding-shaped St Anthony's Hill looms over the road to Lumbarda. An alley lined with cypress leads to a 102-step stairway that scales the hill. At the summit is a small chapel dedicated to St Anthony, and thrilling views of Korčula's surroundings, including the islets and the more distant Orebić shore.

Located down a narrow alley, the excellent Icon Gallery contains religious images of mostly Cretan origin that ended up in Korčula when Christian forces evacuated ecclesiastical treasures from Aegean islands threatened by the Ottomans. A passageway leads from the museum to the 14th-century Church of All Saints.