The Island of Vis and its archipelago (Biševo and Svetac) are extremely significant,
strategic locations when sailing along and across the Adriatic.
The geostrategic location of the island and the possibility
of spreading further to other Central Dalmatian islands and
the mainland attracted the Syracuse ruler Dionysius the Elder, who
established the Greek colony Issa on Vis Island in about 395 B.C.
strategic locations when sailing along and across the Adriatic.
The geostrategic location of the island and the possibility
of spreading further to other Central Dalmatian islands and
the mainland attracted the Syracuse ruler Dionysius the Elder, who
established the Greek colony Issa on Vis Island in about 395 B.C.
THE VIS ARCHIPELAGO, CROATIA
Komiža
Komiža - A quaint fishing village with more than 300 sunny days a year, and centennial trees, picturesque stone houses, Mediterranean herbs and vineyards covering the hills...
"Komiža is one of those places that are impossible to be indifferent to, that you can fall in love with ease… It justifies the placement of the island of Vis as one of the ten last paradise resorts in the Mediterranean." WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
Located on the western side of the island of Vis, Komiža had an incredibly developed fishing industry as early as in the 16th century, unparalleled anywhere else in the Adriatic. Until the mid 19th century, Komiža fishermen were the only offshore fishermen in the entire Mediterranean.
In the past, there used to be four points in Komiža where the locals would gather and discuss the sea and the shores. In front of the Church of our Lady of Pirates, spruce leaves were crushed and soaked in seawater to obtain a special liquid (the so-called ruj), which was used to lubricate the fishing nets. Here, the boats were lined up along the entire shore in two rows. In Mlin, Jurkovac and often Knežica, there were as many as three rows of boats. On the peninsula between Mlin and Jurkovica (Bod/Bodak), the women would do the laundry. Vloka was used as a slipway Jurkovica. In antiquity, between the fortification Komuna and the beach Lucice (Brig) the fortified City of Meo or Meum was located.
When the ships would return, the entire Komiža would welcome them: children, women and old people who could not go out to sea.
"Komiža is one of those places that are impossible to be indifferent to, that you can fall in love with ease… It justifies the placement of the island of Vis as one of the ten last paradise resorts in the Mediterranean." WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
Located on the western side of the island of Vis, Komiža had an incredibly developed fishing industry as early as in the 16th century, unparalleled anywhere else in the Adriatic. Until the mid 19th century, Komiža fishermen were the only offshore fishermen in the entire Mediterranean.
In the past, there used to be four points in Komiža where the locals would gather and discuss the sea and the shores. In front of the Church of our Lady of Pirates, spruce leaves were crushed and soaked in seawater to obtain a special liquid (the so-called ruj), which was used to lubricate the fishing nets. Here, the boats were lined up along the entire shore in two rows. In Mlin, Jurkovac and often Knežica, there were as many as three rows of boats. On the peninsula between Mlin and Jurkovica (Bod/Bodak), the women would do the laundry. Vloka was used as a slipway Jurkovica. In antiquity, between the fortification Komuna and the beach Lucice (Brig) the fortified City of Meo or Meum was located.
When the ships would return, the entire Komiža would welcome them: children, women and old people who could not go out to sea.
Biševo
Biševo - great amounts of oily fish were caught on the net fishing posts of the island of Biševo, which the fishermen would then preserve by salting and export to Venice, Southern Italy and Greece. The posts that were richest in fish were Trešijavac, Biskup and Balun.
Mate Martin Bogdanović, the founder of the US fishing industry, was born on Biševo.
During the night between August 25 and August 26 of 1986, a terrible storm from the west sank three boats in the cove Porat on the Island of Biševo, and among them the last Komiža gajeta falkuša - Cicibela. This shipwreck symbolically marked the end of the millennial tradition of the fishermen from Komiža.
Mate Martin Bogdanović, the founder of the US fishing industry, was born on Biševo.
During the night between August 25 and August 26 of 1986, a terrible storm from the west sank three boats in the cove Porat on the Island of Biševo, and among them the last Komiža gajeta falkuša - Cicibela. This shipwreck symbolically marked the end of the millennial tradition of the fishermen from Komiža.
Brusnik
Brusnik - the Dolac cleft divides the island in two parts. When the sea rises and floods this depression during bad weather, the island of Brusnik becomes two islands. A part of the island under the sea is speckled with small channels through which the seawater penetrates to the surface. The Komiža fishermen, who enclosed certain parts to create basins for keeping lobsters, jastožere, exploited this blessing of nature. In autumn and spring months, the basins would allow them to stay longer in the waters surrounding Brusnik.
Sveti Andrija
Sveti Andrija - The story of the construction of the gajeta falkuša takes us precisely to this island, on which the Komiža shipbuilders for centuries had been picking pine and holy oak for the construction of fishing boats and collecting pine resin for the coating of the hull.
Palagruža
Palagruža - with every fishing dusk, as many as 500 rowers in about 100 gajetas would embark on a regatta from Komiža to Palagruža, 42 miles away. They would compete in reaching the inaccessible and rough coast of Palagruža. With the full moon, after about 20 days of grueling fishing and fish-salting, they would return to Komiža with barrels filled with salted sardines.
This is how Palagruža, the most abundant fishing zone of the Adriatic, appears as a topos of the collective memory of the fishing world, as the basis of its survival.
The Rota Palagruzona is considered to be the oldest regatta, not just in the Mediterranean but also in Europe. Become a VIP guest and participate in the regatta.
This is how Palagruža, the most abundant fishing zone of the Adriatic, appears as a topos of the collective memory of the fishing world, as the basis of its survival.
The Rota Palagruzona is considered to be the oldest regatta, not just in the Mediterranean but also in Europe. Become a VIP guest and participate in the regatta.
