Dubrovnik area

DUBROVNIK – this “pearl of Adriatic” or “the door of Adriatic” as it is often called, situated in the extreme South of Croatia, is the most prominent sailing destination on the Adriatic. Formed already in the 7th century, prosperity of Dubrovnik was always based on maritime trade (salt, coal) In the middle Ages as the Republic of Ragusa it was the only Adriatic city-state rival to Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development, particularly in 15th and 16th centuries, which gave a firm ground for many notable poets, painters, mathematicians and physicist to develop.

Did you know?

… that a quarantine is a Dubrovnik’s invention : in 1377, during the great plague, government brought a resolution saying all ships coming from infected lands (locis pestiferis) are to spend one month on one of surrounding islands (Daksa, Mrkan, Bobara) before entering the city. In comparison to much brutal measures that were on force in Venice or Milan, which isolated completely from the outside world, this quarantine “on open air” not only permitted continuous trade, but also developed in time to small villages with their own regulations, buildings and medical staff

… that on 27th of January 1416 Dubrovnik was the first state to abolish slavery. When taking into consideration that England brought such law in 1569, United States in 1865, Brasil was trading people all until 1888, this fact is not to neglect

… Republic of Ragusa had one of the 1st sewage systems in Europe (1296) which is still in function

Mljet

The untamed Dalmatian island of Mljet is one of Croatia's top sights and a paradise for anyone looking to get away from it all. Half of Mljet island is a national park, with the most unusual feature of the island: two inland salt water lakes--Malo Jezero and Veliko Jezero--connected to the sea by a narrow canal.  On Mljet there are few residents, no large towns and only one major road. Through the centuries it is believed that after the shipwreck that happened in 61.AD on his way to Rome st. Paul Apostol landed on the island of Mljet, more specifically on the sandy beach of Saplunara. St. Paul named Saplunara first, after Latin word «sabulum» that means «sand». 

One more famous resident of this small island was Odysseus. Odysseus's cave is situated under the village of Babino Polje. According to Homer, King of Itaka survived a shipwreck on his way back home from the Troian war, and it took place near the island of Ogigia (interesting thing is that there's a rocky island in front of the cave called Ogiran!). Odysseus swam into the cave for shelter and there nymph Calypso, daughter of Poseidon, God of the sea, waited for him. Amazed by the beauty of the nature and in love with nymph Calipso Odysseus stayed on the island for 7 years.

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Peljesac

Peljesac is the second largest peninsula in Croatia (after Istra), located in south Dalmatia in Dubrovnik region. Unlike other parts of southern Dalmatia which have been wholly given over to tourism, the Peljesac Peninsula retains a thriving agricultural business. 

Dingac and Postup, red wine from Peljesac are appreciated throughout Croatia and the farmed oysters and shellfish from Ston attract gastronomes from afar. Peljesac offers myriad opportunities for outdoor activities: Orebic is famed for its long, sandy Trstenica beach and makes a good base to explore the peninsula and neighboring Korcula Town, and if you are interested in wind surfing – there is no better place to tame wind then Viganj on the South side of this beautiful Croatian peninsular .

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Korcula

Forget what you heard till now – on this island just opposite to Peljesac you will find the birthplace  of Marko Polo, famous word sailor who brought coined money and pasta from Chine to Europe. Korcula, with its most famous settlement KORCULA, presents the most inhabited Adriatic island.

This is the island known for its forest, which is why it was given the name Black Korcula during the colonization of the ancient Greeks. The forests have for centuries been carefully protected, as the timber was necessary for the valuable shipbuilding industry, Maritime contact with other parts of the Mediterranean existed two to three centuries before the time of Christ. 

Korcula is not only known for its timber and ship building, but also for stone, that was used to build many lovely Dalmatian cities as well as some of the most famous buildings such as the Basilica of St.Sofie in Carigrad, the parliament in Vienna and the townhall in Stockholm. This is only the small fracture of what this island can offer to its visitor, so please do not hesitate to spread you sails and sail towards the Korcula archipelago consisting of some twenty islands and islets.

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Lastovo

“Amidst the string of silvery islets, in the Adriatic Sea, stands the forested island of Lastovo, an amazing beautiful island, which from the outside appears to be a forgotten companion of history, while there, in the shade of its tall olive trees, life has flourished since pre-Hellenic times.” Bernard Shaw.

Lastovo means a sailing vacation in harmony with untouched nature, a vacation in the ambience of traditional architecture, a vacation where you will enjoy healthy and fresh island food from the fields and the crystal-clear sea. The name of one of some dozen gardens of Eden in the Mediterranean is on the list of prestigious World Wild Foundation – WWF , and was declared a  Nature Park in 2006. Beside sailing to its untouched Bays like Zaklopatica and Skrivena, special tourist attractions of the island are the famous Lastovo chimneys that were once status symbols of old Lastovo families.

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