Vela Luka

Vela Luka is a village and municipality of Dubrovnik-Neretva County in western Croatia. Vela Luka is located on the western side of the island of Korcula at the bottom of a sharply cut and wide bay indented by many coves.

Population

According to the 2001 census, Vela Luka has population of 4,380. Croats make up an absolute majority with 97.58% of the population. [http://www.dzs.hr/Eng/censuses/Census2001/Popis/E01_02_02/E01_02_02_zup19.html]

Other info

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 richnees of the culture inheritance of Vela Luka can be seen in the exceptional museums and galleries that are located in the Center for Culture in the centre of the town. The premises of the Center are located in the building that was built for school needs in the second half of the 19th century, so that building has historical significance.

Vela Luka has many archeological and architectual points of interest. On the south slope of the hill Pinski rat there is an extraordinary archaeological site Vela Spila, one of the most important prehistoric cave dwellings in Europe.

Vela Spila provides a picture of life on the Mediterranean twenty thousand years ago. The cave's interior measures approximately 1500 sq. meters 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 19th century.

The building is located near the Parish Church of St. Joseph, so together they create a magnificent architectonic/urbanism structure and offer a typical Mediterranean spirit. The museum /gallery is decorated with mosaics made in 1968 when the International Artist Meeting of painters was held in Vela Luka.

The following is presented in the museum and the gallery.

* The Archeological Collection of finds from the historical locality of the Big Cave and antique funds (ceramic dishes, animal and human bones, antique amphora)
* The International Art Collection of drawings, graphic arts, and smaller statues from native artists (Edo Murtić, Picelj, Ujevic) and foreign artists (Soto, Hayer, Messagier),
* Two sculpture of Henry Moore,
* A Collection of ship models by Nedo Gugić,
* The Ethnographic Collection of objects from El Shatt,
* Folk costumes from Vela Luka.

The island of Korčula is known for its numerous chivalrous tournament unions, that are engaged and during different occasions perform old chivalrous tournaments with swords.

Thanks to the members of the Initial council, the hardworking and persisting practise of about twenty young men and husbands of Vela Luka, on March 19th 2001, on the feast of St. Joseph, that is celebrated as the day of the community of Vela Luka as well, exactly after 75 years, the tournament “Kumpanija” of Vela Luka was solemnly performed again. Besides the already mentioned renewal performance of the F.D. “Kumpanija”, it took part in:

* On July 4th on the international festival of chivalrous tournaments in Korčula,
* On September 2nd on the September Sunday events in Dubrovnik,
* Under the organisation of the town council of Alicante and the Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Madrid.

Famouse people from Vela Luka

* Šime Vučetić
* Danijel Dragojević
* Izvor Oreb
* Oliver Dragojević
* Jasna Zlokić
* Perica Vlašić, vrower [http://www.velaluka.info/Sport/vlasic.htm]

Source

* [http://www.velaluka.info Vela Luka.INFO] - Vela Luka na web-u
* [http://www.luski-portal.com/ Luški - Portal] - Vela Luka Online
* [http://www.humhotels.hr/ Hum Hotels Vela Luka]
* [http://www.telenta.net/ Villa Telenta Vela Luka]
* [http://www.croatiadivers.com/ Scuba Diving in Vela Luka]
* [http://www.apartments-vela-luka.com/ Apartments Vela Luka]
* [http://www.velaluka.hr Municipality of Vela Luka]
* [http://www.tzvelaluka.hr/ Tourist Board of the Vela Luka Municipality]
* [http://www.radioval.hr/ Radio "Val"]
* [http://www.radio-m.hr/ Radio M]
* [http://www.zupa-vela-luka.hr/ Parish Church of Saint Joseph Vela Luka]
* [http://www.vela-spila.hr/eng/index.html/ A Stratified Prehistoric Site VELA SPILA (island Korcula)]
* [http://www.hotel.hr/kalos/ "Kalos" Health Center]
* [http://www.gocroatia.info/hotels/Vela%20Luka/ Vela Luka Hotels]
* [http://www.mediterano.hr/location.asp?id=6 Putnička agencija Mediterano]