Authentic Croatia – Stone house love in Blato, Korcula

This site contains product affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links (at no additional cost to you).

Croatia has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. Especially the region along the Adriatic coast and the islands are popular summer destinations. It has become increasingly difficult to find a non-touristy place in Croatia to immerse yourself in the culture and experience the authentic Croatia. 

Back in the days, Croatia was a popular Austrian and German family holiday destination. Prices were cheaper than in Italy. But Croatia soon caught up, the number of visitors and the revenues in tourism grew year after year. Tourism from other European nations and overseas arrived. That came so far that the authorities need to tackle it on the island Hvar. Here you will find advice on the proper rules of conduct, including fines for anyone who does not follow these rules.

If you are looking for a true cultural immersion trip in Croatia, then you have come to the right blog post. I’m going to introduce to you a lovely small town in the heart of the island of Korcula. Amazing landscape in between beautiful stone houses on this Croatian island.

The history of Korcula

Korcula has a long history with various powers that occupied the island. Such as the Greeks, the Slavs, Russians, France and it was also part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. 

Fishing, agriculture, and quarrying were the main economic activities. The phylloxera plague hit the island after the First World War. It affected the winegrowing, which was the source of income for many locals. Korčula was famous for its wine production. The land on the island has special soil for growing grapes and olives. Unfortunately, many people left the island because of the phylloxera plague and immigrated to South America or Australia.

You can see the impact of this migration in Blato, where many unique Croatian stone houses are abandoned and overgrown. These buildings offer great opportunities for photographers. Though exploring the inside of the stone houses is not advisable due to trespassing and safety conerns.

Another interesting fact in Blato is that the street names simply called “Ulica”, which means street. 

For a deeper immersion of the local history and culture you should check out the ethnographic museum of Blato. At the Barilo Museum you can find household equipment, handcrafts and tools. It gives you glimpse of the autentic Croatian island life. A visit at the museum gives you a authentic Croatian island experience. The women that shows you around, has many stories on hand and some homemade products and liqueurs to taste.

Walking tour through the unique town Blato

Blato is truly fascinating. The main street of the town leads you through the second-longest linden tree alley in Europe. From the main town square you can just wander aimlessly through the small alleys. Discover stone house after stone house, from tumbledown to old and vacant to new houses with lovely gardens. You can walk away from the main square and find paths leading up the hill. You will find lovely views Blato. Behind every corner, something new surprises you: a beautiful house, a chapel, or flowers. After a while, a gorgeous view stretches in front of us. In the corner. Or you may find a fig and almond tree. 

Make sure you don’t miss the town square of Blato. A church separated from its tower and a loggia, invites us for a rest in the shadow. 

But the most spectacular viewpoint of Blato is up the hill at the Church of the Mother of God of Health. On the way there, you come across more decayed stone houses. It showcased the loss of inhabitants in this town. 

After walking up the steep street you discover the church at the top of the hill and an incredible view from landscapes covered in trees, bushes, and vineyards to the sea. If you are lucky you place to yourself. Take in the calmness of this incredible viewpoint. Indeed, a unique place in Blato on Korcula, a little church made of stone on the hill above the town.

Additional activities in Korcula

Korcula city is on UNESCO’s tentative list of outstanding world heritage sites. It is as well an amazing town to see, with lot’s of stairs. A gorgeous waterfront, many historical buildings including the city wall. And of course many restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops to unwind.

If you need a break from the city touring and are keen to see the island from the water, there are some tours that might be of interest to you.

• The Sea Kayaking excursion from Korčula Old Town leads you through crystal clear water along the coastline of the island.
• A Stand up paddling tour starts at Lumbarda and also lets you explore the beautiful coves of the island.
• Simply enjoying the beaches of Krocula

Tip: Don’t forget your sunscreen!

The best time to visit Korcula, Blato

The best time to visit Blato is probably from April to October/November. However, if you want to avoid high numbers of tourists, then it is better to visit before the high season in April or May or after the high season in September or October. The autumn months are harvest time. So for the gourmets among you, there is only one time when you should come to Croatia. 😉

How to reach Korcula 

The best way to get to Korcula is from Split or Dubrovnik. The island itself does not have an airport.

Ferries from Split stop at Vela Luka and ferries from Dubrovnik stop at Korcula town. From Korcula city you can take the bus to Blato which is a 55 minute ride. And from Vela Luka the bus ride is 10 minutes. There are buses running between the towns in Korcula but the schedules are not very frequent. Remember that while planning your trip.

If you are going by car you can take the car ferry from Orebić. 

My connection to this authentic island of Croatia, Korcula

I need to give you a little backstory of how I actually came across Blato. Korcula is the second home for my neighbors. They visit Korčula every year around August/September, and they stay there at a holiday rental apartment in a lovely stone house. Over the years, they become friends with the owners of the house. Thus, it became a tradition that whenever they visit Korčula the owners will stay at the apartment on the house’s first floor. While my neighbors stay on the second floor. They have dinner together, go on walks, or help at the wine harvest.

Hearing their stories and tasting the treats they brought back – olives, grapes, grape juice, olive oil and figs – made me eager to experience authentic Croatia myself. 

Finally, during my Balkan trip, I had the chance to visit this unique island of Croatia. I stayed with them in the lovely stone house, joined them for dinners, and listened to the stories of their hosts. During my stay, I learned a lot about the island’s history and authentic lifestyle on this Croatian island. A real cultural immersion on this amazing island in the Mediterranean Sea.

The influence of stone houses on my sleep in Korcula, Croatia

During my stay the only sleeping option was the couch, that was slightly to small for me. But my grateful heart and Couchsurfing soul were thankful. I expected a short and uncomfortable night. However, my expectations did not come true. I slept like a stone in a stone house. Not even the huge thunderstorm woke me up.

This truly surprised me. My neighbor told me that it is probably a stone house. Her sleep in the house is also very different. When it influences my sleep so significantly, what else can it influence?

Since then, I dreaming of having my own stone house. Or at least I’m inspired to vacation in stone houses more often. I hope it also inspires you – to book a fabulous stone house and enjoy the unique island in Croatia.