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Vela Luka

Coordinates: 42°57′40″N 16°43′10″E / 42.96111°N 16.71944°E / 42.96111; 16.71944
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Vela Luka
Municipality
Općina Vela Luka
Vela Luka
Vela Luka
Coat of arms of Vela Luka
Coat of arms
CountryCroatia
CountyDubrovnik–Neretva
Government
 • Municipal mayorTonko Gugić (SDP)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
4,380
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
20270
Area code020
Websitevelaluka.hr

Vela Luka (pronounced [ʋela luka] ⓘ) (Italian: Vallegrande) is a small town and a municipality in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in southern Dalmatia, Croatia. The town is located on the western side of the island of Korčula at the bottom of a wide bay which has many indented coves. Vela Luka developed at the beginning of the 19th century in a deep sheltered bay.[1] Its name means "big harbour" in Croatian chakavian. Inhabitants of the Island of Korčula and Pelješac often refer to it simply as "Luka" (the port/harbour). It has several hotels and a medical centre called Kalos (for rheumatic disorders and rehabilitation). The inhabitants are farmers, fishermen and workers in tourism. Also the town has other smaller industrial plants.

Population

According to the 2001 census, Vela Luka has a population of 4,380. Croats make up an absolute majority with 97.58% of the population.[2]

In 2011, the total population of Vela Luka (not including Potirna where 22 people are living, mostly from Vela Luka) was 4130.

Additional information

It has an average of over 2500 hours of sunny weather annually, and is the second largest place, in size, on the Adriatic islands. The diversity and richness of the cultural inheritance of Vela Luka can be seen in the exceptional museums and galleries that are located in the Center for Culture [3] in the town center. The Center for Culture is located in the building that was constructed for school needs in the second half of the 19th century, so the building itself has historical significance. It is located near the Parish Church of St. Joseph. Together they create a magnificent urban structure in the typical Mediterranean spirit.

The museum/gallery is decorated with mosaics made in 1968 when the International Artist's Meeting of Painters was held in Vela Luka.

Vela Luka has many archeological and architectural points of interest. On the south slope of the hill, Pinski Rat, there is an extraordinary archaeological site. It is called Vela Spila (Big Cave) [4] and it is one of the most important prehistoric cave dwellings in Europe. Vela Spila [1] provides a picture of life on the Mediterranean of Mesolithic and Neolithic people living in that region. Carbon dating has shown that there was human activity going back 20 000 years.[5] The finds are on display at the Center for Culture in Vela Luka. The cave's interior measures approximately 1500 sq. meters and it is located several hundred meters above the beautiful Vela Luka Bay. Another panoramic view of the area can been seen from Hum Hill and the Forteca, an Austro-Hungarian fortress built in the 19th century. Vela Luka has a rich history of Klapa singing (an a cappella style). One of the best known is the Klapa Ošjak.

The following is on display in the museum and the gallery:

  • The Archeological Collection of finds from the historical locality of the Big Cave and antique finds (ceramic dishes, animal & human bones, antique amphora)
  • The International Art Collection of drawings, graphic arts, and smaller statues from local artists (Edo Murtić, Picelj, Ujevic) and foreign artists (Soto, Hayer, Messagier),
  • Two sculptures by Henry Moore,[6]
  • A Collection of ship models by Nedo Gugić,
  • The Ethnographic Collection of objects from the El Shatt [7][dead link‍] Refugee Camp [8][dead link‍];
  • Folk costumes from Vela Luka.

The island of Korčula is known for its numerous chivalrous dance tournament unions [2]. The tournaments are performed on many different occasions and some incorporate the use of swords. On March 19, 2001 the feast of St. Joseph was celebrated as the day of the community of Vela Luka. This was exactly 75 years after the first celebration of the tournament “Kumpanija”. Thanks to the members of the town's council, the hardworking and persisting practise of about twenty young men of Vela Luka, the tradition continues today. The FD “Kumpanija” is a celebrated as the day of the community for Vela Luka. Saint Joseph is the patron Saint of the town.

Vela Luka's chivalrous dance tournaments festival activity:

  • On July 4 there is the international festival of chivalrous dance tournaments in Korcula,
  • On September 2 on Sunday there are events in Dubrovnik,
  • Chivalrous festival tournament in Madrid-Spain (organize by Consulate of Croatia & town council of Alicante).

Notable people from Vela Luka

References

  1. ^ Mirošević, Lena (December 2008). "Sociogeographic transformation of the western part of Korčula Island". Geoadria. 13 (2). Croatian Geographical Society - Zadar. ISSN 1331-2294. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  2. ^ Croatian Census 2001/Popis stanovništva 2001 www.dzs.hr
  3. ^ Museums in Croatia
  4. ^ www.velaspila
  5. ^ T. Težak-Gregl (December 2005). "Božidar Čečuk i Dinko Radić: Vela spila: A stratified prehistoric site Vela Luka - island of Korčula". Opuscula Archaeologica Papers of the Department of Archaeology. 29 (1). Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. ISSN 0473-0992. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  6. ^ Footprint Croatia by Jane Foster
  7. ^ El Shatt/www.hismus.hr
  8. ^ "Page not found | Egypt Today". Retrieved 2016-09-24. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
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42°57′40″N 16°43′10″E / 42.96111°N 16.71944°E / 42.96111; 16.71944

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