Blato

Blato is a small town on Korcula with 4093 inhabitantsis, situated in the middle of the western part of the island like an amphitheatre on seven hills around a smaller valley.

Through the village stretches a long alley of lime-trees called “Zlinje”, and along it are public buildings built in the last few decades: the school, a hotel, banks, shops, the municipality, the clinic and others. In the old centre, southern of “Zlinje”, on a big patterned place, is the parish church of “All Saints” that was originally built in the 13th century, the bell-tower and the lodge. The place is at the same time an open stage where numerous religious and secular celebrations are held, and the greatest is certainly the celebration of the patron-saint of Blato, the Saint Vincenca. The relics of this saint were brought to Blato with the allowance of the Pope Pio VI 200 years ago in the year 1795, and the feast is on the 28th of April, which is the day of the municipality of Blato as well. Dalmatia Blato apartments and accommodation The church “All Saints” was built in 1350 and it was reconstructed in 1672 when the bell-tower was built.

At this time, in 1700, the lodge in front of the church was built, instead of the old one from 1496 that was pulled down then. In the church is the main marble altar built by the baroque builder Peter Paul Bertapelli and on it is the significant picture “All Saints” by the Venetian painter Girolamo da Santacroce from 1540. In the building next to the church is the collection of art pieces, valuables, documents and archeologic funds connected with the history of Blato and the church itself. In the village and its surroundings are many smaller churches and chapels. The oldest is the church of “St. Kausus and Demian” from the 6th century, the “St. Mary in the Field”, “St. Martin” and others. Dalmatia Blato location map There are many old houses with patterned courtyards and farm buildings in Blato. There are also “castles” of the aristocracy from Korcula, and the most significant is the baroque summerhouse “Castle Arneri” in the centre of the village. It is foreseen as the location for the homeland museum with archeologic, historic and ethnologic collections.