Korcula Town is laid out on a small peninsula that juts into the Peljesac Channel in a distinctive herringbone pattern of narrow streets designed by its Venetian builders to channel sea breezes and minimise summer heat. The Cathedral of St Mark is a remarkable piece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, and the town’s medieval walls, towers and palaces are remarkably intact — a UNESCO World Heritage contender that somehow remains off most tourist itineraries. The Marco Polo House — a tower said to be the birthplace of the great Venetian explorer — is the island’s most famous attraction and a popular pilgrimage site. Whether or not the claim is historically accurate, it adds a romantic narrative to a town already full of character. The Moreska sword dance, performed on summer evenings by local participants in colourful costumes, is another unique cultural highlight. Beyond the town, Korcula Island stretches 47 kilometres into the southern Adriatic and offers quieter pleasures: vineyards producing the excellent Gk and Posip white wines that have made the island famous among Croatian wine enthusiasts, olive groves, peaceful coves accessible only by boat and the relaxed villages of Lumbarda and Vela Luka at either end of the island. The water around Korcula is extraordinarily clear and calm, ideal for swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The island is accessible by catamaran from Split and Dubrovnik and is an excellent base for exploring the southern Dalmatian islands. Best visited May to September, with late June and early September being particularly pleasant.