KORCULA - Croatia and Slovenia - page 413

Cost and Hours: 15 kn, hours depend on demand—generally May-Oct Mon-Sat
10:00-14:00 & 17:00-18:30, may be open all day in peak season, closed Sun except in July-
Aug, closed Nov-April—but try ringing the bell, on Kaprova ulica at the Old Town's south-
east tip—look for Ikone sign.
▲ Old Town Walls
For several centuries, Kor č ula held a crucial strategic position as one of the most important
southern outposts of the Venetian Republic (the Republic of Dubrovnik started at the
Pelješac Peninsula, just across the channel). The original town walls around Kor č ula date
from at least the 13th century, but the fortifications were extended (and new towers built)
over several centuries to defend against various foes of Venice—mostly Ottomans and pir-
ates.
Themostrecenttowerdatesfromthe16thcentury,whentheOttomansattackedKor č ula.
The rector and other VIPs fled to the mainland, but a brave priest remained on the island
and came up with a plan. All of the women of Kor č ula dressed up as men, and then every-
bodyintownpeekedoverthewall—makingtheOttomansthinktheywereupagainstahuge
army. The priest prayed for help, and the strong northerly Bora wind blew. Not wanting to
take their chances with the many defenders and the weather, the Ottomans sailed away, and
Kor č ula was saved.
By the late 19th century, Kor č ula was an unimportant Habsburg beach town, and the
wallshadnostrategicvalue.Thetowndecidedtoquarrythetophalfofitsoldwallstobuild
new homes (and to improve air circulation inside the city). Though today's walls are half as
high as they used to be, the town has restored many of the towers, giving Kor č ula its for-
tified feel. Each one has a winged lion—a symbol of Venice—and the seal of the rector of
Kor č ula when the tower was built.
• Back out near the main gate of town, you'll find Kor č ula's final—and newest—sight.
▲ Marco Polo Museum
Whilenotquiteaserious“museum,”thisexhibitoffersanengaginginterpretationofthelife
story of the (supposedly) Kor č ula-born explorer. Considering that this attraction is basically
a publicity stunt for the local chain of Marco Polo gift shops, it's far better than it could be.
Cost and Hours: 60 kn, discounted if you purchase something at one of the town's
Marco Polo gift shops, daily mid-June-late Sept 9:00-24:00, until 21:00 in shoulder season,
closed Nov-April, Plokata 33, mobile [phone].
Visiting the Museum: You'll borrow a long-winded but evocative audioguide (or, if
you're impatient, just read the posted placards) and walk past life-size dioramas of seven
scenes from Marco Polo's adventures, including setting sail from Kor č ula on his 24-year
eastern odyssey, crossing the deserts of Asia, coming to the court of Kublai Khan, falling