August the 4th, 2025 – The deeply religious and cultural Vela setemana event on the central Dalmatian island of Korčula has gained national cultural heritage status.
As Morski writes, Vela setemana is a multi-day series of liturgical ceremonies, penitential processions and brotherhood activities that connect all levels of the community on the island of Korčula.
This ancient event connects believers, brotherhoods, the parish community, cultural and musical groups and the local population of the island.
The central events include processions with crosses, night processions, a very special way of walking through the heart of the town and more. The entire event is carried out in deep piety with customs that have been passed down within families and communities for centuries from generation to generation.
Vela setemana, or Holy Week on Korčula, is a centuries-old religious and cultural tradition in which three city brotherhoods participate – All Saints (Sasvetani), St. Roch (Rokovci) and the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mihovilci). Along with brotherhoods, religious communities and cultural associations, they all come together to play a key role in implementing the protection and development of this utterly precious segment of Korčula’s heritage.
This recognition and the final inclusion of this deeply rooted cultural and religious island event in the Register of Protected Cultural Heritage is the result of years of dedicated and hard work.
