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52 dubrovnik neretvA CountY
another day by boat to squeeze into it through a 30m tunnel.
Local fishermen use the grotto as a harbour.
Prožura This medieval village was used by Ragusan nobles
who – a bit like yourself – were looking for relaxing getaway.
Perched on a hill over a Blato (an intermittent lake) and the
sea, Prožura has a 17th Century watch tower and three
beautiful churches: the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Church
of St Martin and the Church of St Rocco. The Church of the
Holy Trinity has characteristics similar to those of Dubrovnik’s
Gothic chapels, plus a remarkable 15th Century Romanesque
bronze crucifix. The church most likely was built in 1477 by the
Benedictines from Lokrum, who were bequeathed the estate
in Prožura. The crucifix includes figured representations
of St Blaise (the patron saint of Dubrovnik), St Martin (the
patron saint of the poor) and St Nicholas (the patron saint
of sailors and fishermen). Benedictines lived and worked in
a small monastery near the church. It’s partly ruined now;
along with the tower, it has been adapted for reuse as a
stable and storage.
The Church of St Martin and village graveyard are situated
on a bluff overlooking the village on one side and the island
road and Pelješac Channel on the other. A plaque on the 14th
Century porch thanks Jolanda Vecchietta, a teacher who
came to the island during the Italian occupation in World War
II, taught in the local school and fell in love with the island.
After the war she returned to Italy but later paid for the 1998
renovations to the church. St Martin’s day is celebrated on
November 11 with a mass in the church.
The newer Church of St Rocco is situated on another small
hill above the village. Costumed celebrations of St Rocco
(who was believed to have saved the village from the
plague), take place on August 16 every year. Prožura was
the birthplace of Pavao Gracić, a well known bishop of Ston
from 1635 to 1652.
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Maranovići The 18th Century Baroque house of the Peš
family is in the middle of the town. The 19th Century parish
church of St Anton rests on the foundations of an older church
and features Gothic architectural elements.
In nearby Korita, the ruined 14th Century Church of St Mary
of the Hill mixes Gothic and Renaissance elements, and
demonstrates features typical of the island’s churches.
A roughly square plan with a deep porch extending to the
front, and a picturesque belfry “na preslicu” (“on a distaff,”
that is, the belfry has a split where the bell hangs, the way a
distaff’s end is cleft to hold wool). Some of the manor houses
have Renaissance-Baroque elements. The town has its own
17th Century defence tower with loopholes for firing. Korita
is named for the stone troughs, common on the island, that
are used to capture rainwater.
Tourist information
i
Tourist Board Mljet, Sobra bb tel.
74 60 25, fax 74 60 25, tz-mljet@
du.t-com.hr, www.mljet.hr. Sobra
office (around the side of the café at the
ferry pier).QDecember - March 31 Open
09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sat, Sun. April -
May 31 Open 08:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun.
Tourist Board Goveđari (office actually in Polače),
tel. 74 41 86, fax 74 41 86. December - March 31
Open 09:00 - 14:00. Closed Sat, Sun. April - May 31
Open 08:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun.
Did you know...?
All of the streets in Korčula’s Old Town have steps – except
one, which is called “The Street of Thoughts” as you
can stroll along it without worrying about tripping over!
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