August 19, 2018 – Living the dream – a luxury yacht, complete with helicopter, moored up by an historic Dalmatian walled town at sunset.
I discovered Korcula rather late in life. Being a Hvar boy for more than 13 years, why would one go anywhere else? But my interest in Korcula started to grow about this time last summer when I accepted a luncheon invitation from a fellow Brit who owned the luxury boutique hotel, Lesic Dimitri. One seductive lunch and a gorgeous stay at Tara’s Lodge, and the wheels were set in motion for a portal for the island, Total Korcula. You can see the original impressions from my visit a year ago here.
After a difficult summer in Jelsa and vast disappointment at the direction the powers that be have decided on its tourism direction, it was a breath of fresh air to escape to Korcula for a few days to catch up with friends and clients alike.
Korcula Town is one of the true jewels of Croatian tourism, and one which does not get the recognition it fully deserves in my opinion. Often described as a mini-Dubrovnik, it also sits in Dubrovnik’s shadows in terms of media coverage. Why come all the way out to an island to cover a mini version of what you have on the mainland at King’s Landing?
And the more time I spend on Korcula, the more I appreciate that tiny, but immaculate old town, full of history, tradition, art, olives and wine. Where the views will blow you away whatever time of day.
One addition to my daily routine that I have built into my Korcula routine is a sunset walk around its walls. The restaurants, whose tables are directly by the walls thereby allowing an intimate connection with stone and sea, are always pretty full, and there is a buzz in the air. The setting sun is a perfect backdrop to the end of another perfect day.
And some photo opportunities are even better than others, although I don’t believe it is possible to take a bad photo in Korcula Town.
My favourite photo from this trip, complete with helicopter. Korcula’s tourism is moving very much to higher quality. No overcrowding or mass tourism here, just a quiet increase of more discerning guests who are happy to spend their holidays and money in a destination which is selling the true Mediterranean as It Once Was.
