Korcula Town Walls, Korcula (must see)

The Old Town of Korcula, cradled on the shores of the Adriatic, boasts a storied past, guarded by the formidable Korcula Town Walls. Strategically perched on the island, the town's medieval origins prompted the construction of robust defensive fortifications, transforming it into one of Croatia's most impressive surviving fortified medieval towns. The imposing remnants of these walls, with their towers, stand as sentinels, a testament to the architectural prowess of medieval European war strategies.

As one approaches Korcula from the north and the east, the commanding presence of the defensive walls captures the imagination. These walls, erected in the 13th and 14th centuries, were designed not only to shield the town's denizens from land-based threats but also to thwart incursions from the shimmering Adriatic. Over the centuries, as warfare evolved, so did the fortifications. From the early 18th century onward, advancements in weaponry prompted continuous enhancements and adjustments to the walls and towers.

However, as the threats of war waned and the town's way of life shifted, neglect gradually embraced these once vital defenses. By the early 19th century, large sections of the walls faced dereliction. In response to changing times and a visit by Franz Joseph I, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, some portions, including the upper part of the eastern walls (Zakerjan area) and part of the western walls (Riva-Korcula port), were intentionally demolished. Despite these alterations, the Korcula Town Walls remain a formidable testament to a medieval era when the town's survival hinged on the strength of its protective embrace.