Coral Festival on Zlarin Island Celebrating 600 Years of Tradition

Zlarin island prouds itself on the long-running tradition of coral diving. People living on the small island near Šibenik used to be known as the only community that was diving for corals in the Adriatic waters; upon arriving to Zlarin, you’ll notice the island still boasts red corals and coral jewellery as its main symbols. 

Tonight and tomorrow, starting from 21:00, Zlarin will host a special summer event: a manifestation known as ‘Send-off for Coral Hunters’.

Residents of Zlarin invite all interested visitors to join them on a journey into the island’s history, following a fascinating tradition dating back to the 13th century. A warm send-off used to be prepared for the young men of Zlarin, to wish them luck before they set off on their long voyages to Greek waters in search for corals. The manifestation isn’t only of great significance for Zlarin, but plays an important role in preservation of tradition of the wider Šibenik cultural area.

Tonight, July 28, there will be a screening of selceted scenes from the film ‘Coral Princess’, accompanied by a reenactment of the historical custom of washing clothes at a wellspring. On Saturday evening, the visitors will get a chance to see how traditional boats used to be equipped back in the day. You can also learn about the history of coral harvesting on Zlarin, see a demonstration of harvesting equipment, and the Society for Culture and Art ‘Coral’ will perform Zlarin’s folk songs.

Here’s a short video telling the story of Zlarin and coral diving:

 

Photo credit: Zlatko Sunko, courtesy of the Croatian National Tourist Board

 

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