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 Situated on the western side of the island of Korcula (Croatia) in a large bay dotted with many tiny islets and surrounded by tranquil inlets, Town of Vela Luka is an oasis of Dalmatia and Mediterranean influences: mild climate, unpolluted sea and air, olive groves, fig trees, tuneful melodies.
Vela Luka is surrounded by the richness and beauty of Nature. It is the 2nd largest settlement on the Adriatic islands, a safe harbour for seafarers.
The cultural identity of Vela Luka arises from the traditional merging of man and nature. A few kilometers from the center of Vela Luka we find traces of early human settlement at the "Vela Spila" cave. Archeological finds from Vela Spila can be viewed at the Cultural Centre in Vela Luka. Also view the numismatic collection and the only Henry Moore sculpture in Croatia.
The traditional Vela Luka Festival in July and August offers many concerts, exhibitions and presentations for you to enjoy.
The Regatta in honour of St John on the 24th June should not be missed.
A few minutes walk from Vela Luka you will find your own private pebble beach, far from the everyday stresses of modern life. The smells and beauty of the Adriatic will ensure an ideal holiday for the body and soul. You will get a taste of Dalmatia in one of the numerous restaurants and taverns specializing in seafoods.
Mild Mediterranean sun, clear night skies, azure sea of Proizd, perfume of pine trees, the cicadas of island Osjak, Dalmatian choral songs and friendly hosts will ensure a holidays you will never forget.
The region of todays Vela Luka was already inhabited in the prehistorically times, and this witnesses by archeological researches and founds in the Vela Spila (Big Cave). Numerous relieves of buildings and heaps (Potirna, Kovnici, Gradina...) are the trails of Illyrians, who inhabited the Adriatic coast and the island of Korcula, as well. There are numerous Greek and Roman findings, too. Some explorers believe that in the area of Vela Luka (Potirna) there was a Greek-Conidian colony, and based on relieves of architecture that can still be seen (Bradat, Gudulija, Poplat, Gubesa) a number of Roman settlements of economic i.e. farming character (villae rusticae) were found. During the exploration of the small church of St. Kuzma and Damjan (Zablace) numerous relieves from old-Christian periods were found.
General info:
VELA LUKA, a town and port on the western side of the island of Korcula, 45 km to the west of the town of Korcula; population 4,464. The major part of the town spreads over the slopes of Spilinski Rat (150 m) and the mildly descending plateau between the Rat and the Humic elevation (183 m). The surrounding hills protect it from the northerly and southerly winds; the landward breeze often blows in the summer. The average air temperature in January reaches 7.9 °C and in July 24.9 °C; 2,671 hours of sunshine a year (in the summer 11.3 hrs a day). Chief occupations are farming, wine production, olive growing and processing, fruit growing, fishing, fish and food processing, shipbuilding and tourism. The coastal strip including the small islands (Proizd, Kamenjak, Osjak and Gubesa) represents a rich fishing ground. Vela Luka lies on the regional road running along the island. Ferry port; ferry connections with Split and Lastovo.
There is a prehistoric archaeological site Vela Spilja (Neolithic). - The one-nave church of St. John in the region of Gradina was first mentioned in the 15th century; it has a bell tower on the main front ("na preslicu"), and a Gothic vault. The parish church and the belfry were built in neo-historicist style. Vela Luka is commonly called the oldest and the youngest town on the island of Korula. The oldest because of Vela Spilja, but the place was not important until the end of the 18th century. Today, Vela Luka is an important tourist centre, known for its beautiful scenery - the islets (Ojak), inlets (Triporti), olive groves - beyond the Croatian borders. Excursion boats start from the promenade towards attractive places in the bay of Vela Luka, primarily to Ojak, the island of love, the protected forest park, and the island of Prozid, designated to accommodate excursionists. The Kale cove contains deposits of medicinal marine mud and the spring of radon mineral water, used for hundreds of years to cure various disorders, primarily rheumatic diseases. A modern health resort, including Kalos, a hospital for medicinal rehabilitation with modern diagnostic centre and physical therapy, was built there in the 1960s. Apart from intact nature, Vela Luka offers its visitors all other advantages of modern tourism, from quality accommodation, over the variety of restaurants offering seafood and quality wines, to sports and recreational facilities (tennis, yachting, surfing, etc.) and entertainment. Many find the Croatian folk songs sung by fishermen of Vela Luka in the evening hours the most impressive attraction. The St. Joseph's Day (19th of March) is a traditional feast, accompanied by religious and cultural events and programs.
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