A Feast for Foodies in Laidback Korčula, Croatia

Korčula, one of the largest islands along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, is full of traditions, old villages, forests, vineyards, olive groves, and stunning beaches. According to local lore, it's also the birthplace of Marco Polo. While that makes for a great story, other locals are sure it can't be true, arguing that if he were born here, the legendary merchant and explorer would never have become such an avid traveler – life on Korčula is simply too good to leave.

The local winemaking tradition in this area dates back millennia, and the island is renowned for the quality of its white wines made from the native pošip, grk, and rukatac grape varieties. They all pair exceptionally well with a local fish dish like popara, a stew that's the Dalmatian answer to bouillabaisse.

As if that wasn’t enough, some thousand family farms scattered across the island produce olive oil of such distinctive quality that it's received a protected designation of origin. The delicious tomatoes of Korčula could easily qualify for Unesco's world heritage status too, and it's no surprise that even the tiny local town of Pupnat (with a population of 400) boasts its own Michelin-starred restaurant.

The largest town on the island, also called Korčula, is a jumble of orange roofs wrapped in beautiful city walls. It's reminiscent of nearby Dubrovnik, Croatia's most popular tourist destination, but far smaller and less crowded. The rest of the island boasts an impressive network of cycling and hiking routes and myriad beaches with crystal clear waters to choose from. On summer afternoons, the strong winds picks up, creating perfect conditions for windsurfers too.

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