City Defences

Korčula Island


Korčula’s towers and remaining city walls look particularly striking when approached from the sea, their presence warning pirates the town would be no pushover. Originally these defences would have been even more foreboding, forming a complete stone barrier against invaders that consisted of 12 towers and 20m-high walls.

The main entrance to the old city is through the southern land gate in the Veliki Revelin Tower. Built in the 14th century and later extended, this fortification is adorned with coats of arms of the Venetian doges and Korčulan governors. There was originally a wooden drawbridge here, but it was replaced in the 18th century by the wide stone steps that give a sense of grandeur to the entrance. The best remaining part of the defensive walls stretches west from here.

On the western side the conical Large Governor's Tower, built in 1483, and the Small Governor’s Tower, built in 1449, protected the port, shipping and the Governor’s Palace, which used to stand next to the town hall. Continuing clockwise around the edge of the old-town peninsula, the small Sea Gate Tower has an inscription in Latin from 1592 asserting the fanciful notion that Korčula was founded after the fall of Troy. Next up is the renovated Kanavelić Tower, its semicircular profile topped with battlements, and then the smaller Zakerjan Tower, which now houses the Massimo cocktail bar.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Korčula Island attractions

1. Icon Museum

0.02 MILES

This modest museum has a collection of interesting Byzantine icons, painted on gilded wood, and 17th- and 18th-century ritual objects. The real highlight…

2. Veliki Revelin Tower

0.03 MILES

The main entrance to the old city is through the southern land gate at the base of this tower. Built in the 14th century and later extended, this…

3. St Mark's Abbey Treasury

0.05 MILES

The 14th-century Abbey Palace houses an important collection of icons and Dalmatian religious art. The most outstanding work is the 1431 polyptych of The…

4. Korčula Town Museum

0.06 MILES

Occupying the 16th-century Gabriellis Palace, this museum traces the history and culture of Korčula throughout the ages. Displays cover stonemasonry,…

5. St Mark’s Cathedral

0.06 MILES

Dominating the little square at Korčula's heart is this magnificent 15th-century cathedral, built from Korčula limestone in a Gothic-Renaissance style by…

6. Marco Polo Museum

0.06 MILES

One for the kiddies, this somewhat tacky display tells the story of Polo's extraordinary life by way of seven life-sized waxwork tableaux illustrating key…

7. Small Governor's Tower

0.07 MILES

This tower was built in 1449 to protect the port and the Governor’s Palace, which used to stand next to the town hall. It's not open to the public.

8. Marco Polo House

0.08 MILES

Located in the skinny tower of the house that is purported to have been Marco Polo's, this tiny museum has a few displays, but perhaps the real appeal of…

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