|
Near
the mouth of the Neretva River lies Stone Field. Here is a small
old-Croatian church of St. Michael representing the beginning of
Christian spirituality in the area. Its wall paintings are the
only preserved examples of early Romanesque painting in Dalmatia.
The towns Mali Ston and veliki Ston, founded by the Dubrovnik
Republic in the 14th century, guard the entrance to the Pelješac
peninsula. Pelješac is famous for its wines Postup and Dingač.
The nearby island of Korčula
takes pride in its strong astringent wines as well as in its dense
coniferous forest, to which, according to the legend, the island
owes its name. The beginning of the town of Korčula goes nack to
the 4th c. BC. The nearby island of Mljet is full of history. Its
landscape evokes the legend that Ulysses visited Mljet on his
wanderings in the Mediterranean. On the island numerous Illyrian
ruins and mediaeval churches can be found and its biggest
attraction is a Benedictine Monastery in the middle of the Vransko
Lake from the 12th century. From Pelješac to Dubrovnik stretch
small Elafiti islands. Dubrovnik was built in the 7th century. Its
monuments stand on the UNESCO Heritage list, among them are the
main street Stradun, the town walls, the church of St. Vlaho, the
City Hall, the Custom's house. The influence of Dubrovnik is felt
all the way down to the southernmost point of Croatia, Prevlaka.
The surroundings of Dubrovnik are attractive too, the romantic
Lokrum, the village of Župa Dubrovačka and Cavtat. |
|
