Southern Dalmatia

SOUTHERN DALMATIA is the southern area of Croatia famous for its rich cultural and stunning natural heritage. The enchanting landscape, including the nearby islands off Dubrovnik, the beaches, the numberless historical sites, the colours, the shapes, the scents, the warmth of the climate and people are a few reasons why is it worth paying a visit to this part of Dalmation.

The average air temperature in the coldest month (February) is 4.6 °C and in the warmest month August 26.2 °C. The area is one of the sunniest in southern Europe with 2.554 hours of sunshine a year.

Dubrovnik the Pearl of Adriatic and the world famous resort 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 nearby places are attractive too, the romantic Lokrum, the village of Zupa Dubrovacka and Cavtat.

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 and therefore a popular destination as well.

The nearby island of Korčula takes pride in its strong astringent wines as well as in its dense forest, to which, according to the legend, the island owes its name. The beginning of the town of Korčula goes back to the 4th c. BC. The town of Korcula is also said to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo and is famous for the well preserved ramparts.

Another beautiful nearby island is Mljet, which is abundant with cultural and natural. Its landscape evokes the legend that Ulysses visited Mljet on one of his journeys in the Mediterranean. On the island you can admire numerous Illyrian ruins and mediaeval churches. The island’s biggest attraction is undoubtedly Benedictine Monastery built in the middle of the Vransko Lake on a small islet. From Pelješac to Dubrovnik stretch small Elafiti islands.

There is a tradition of producing hard sheep milk cheese formed into small, flat cakes in the area. Another typical dish is the Eels from the Neretva River Estuary. Brudet is widely present in this region as well. In this red-coloured dish eels are often accompanied by frogs, which are another great gastronomic attraction of the estuary. Wild ducks and coots round off this list. Especially attractive are the oysters from the mouth of the Krka River where it flows into the Adriatic and other fish, lobsters, sea spiders found in local sea waters.