Komiža

Komiža is a town and harbour on the western coast of the island of Vis in the Adriatic sea; population 2,476.

Komiža is located at the foot of the Hum hill (587 m). An average air temperature in January is 8.9 °C. Economy is based on farming, winemaking, fishing and fish processing, seafaring and in recent times on tourism. On the eastern coast of the bay are large sand and pebble beaches (Kamenica, Gusarica, Nova Posta, Velo Zalo).

Komiža has 2 regional roads that connect Komiža with the town of Vis, the only town being connected with Split by ferry line.

General information

Situated in a deep bay, whose eastern coast abounds with large pebble beaches (Kamenica, Gusarica, Nova Posta, Velo Zalo), Komiža offers excellent visitor opportunities: quality accommodation facilities - hotel, apartments, and a number of cultural and historic sites - monastery, fortresses. It is famous for its fishermen (fishermen from Komiza are also known in San Pedro, California), so that fish and other seafood are traditionally served daily. Famous are also Komiza wines and carobs.

Sports and recreational facilities include three boccia courts, as well as various playgrounds for basketball, handball and football. Water sports and diving (during the diving season) are also very interesting.

The special atmosphere of summer evenings is supplemented by performances of harmony-singing groups or children's choirs on the coastal promenade or in one of local restaurants. Exhibitions and other cultural events are regularly organized, especially when the Croats from the United States of America, actually Komiza natives, visit their mother country.

Heritage

The settlement was first mentioned in the 12th century. The citadel (kaštel) in the port was built in 1585.

In the 13th century, the Benedictines founded the monastery of St. Nicholas, so-called Muster on an elevation above the settlement. The oldest core of the monastery is a one-nave Romanesque church with a semicircular apse from the 13th century.

In the period of the 14th-17th century a large five-nave church was built: its central nave dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and the large Baroque sanctuary to 1652. Two high square towers in Romanesque style have been preserved of the original monastery fortifications; the tower above the church front was converted into a bell tower in 1770.

The church of Our Lady of Gusarica consists of three one-nave churches of the same size, which are connected with arches in the interior. The oldest of them is the middle church (16th c.), while the side churches date back to the 17th and the 18th centuries. The church features Baroque altars, an organ from 1670 and an outstanding silver relief of Our Lady of the Rosary from the 17th century.

The fortified church of St. Roch (Rocco) was erected in 1763, and the church of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (the New Church) dates back to 1756.

The Art Nouveau building of the Community Centre from the beginning of the 20th century is a work by the architect A. Bezic; the Memorial Centre was designed by S. Planic, the author of the reliefs and mosaics is B. Mardesic. The Gallery of Duro Ti-ljak has been open in Komiža since 1966, and since 1984 also the Gallery of Boris Mardesic.

Location

Komiza is located on the island of Vis which is the most distant lying large island in the Central Dalmatian coast. Vis is centered on 90.3 square kilometers of land. Its widest point spans 17 kilometers and from north to south its maximum length is 8 kilometers. It is approximately 45-55 kilometers from the Dalmatian coastline to the island of Vis. The coastline of Vis measures 76.7 kilometers long and is marked by bays, coves and natural ports. [ [http://www.tz-komiza.hr/index.php Komiža - Komiža, Otok Vis, Dalmacija, Hrvatska ] ]

Climate

Komiza experiences mild and temperate winters and warm to hot summers with the landward breeze making it the most moderate climate in the Republic of Croatia. The climate allows for Mediterranean vegetation, including palms, carobs, olives, grapes and lemons. The average rainfall is about 750mm per square meter. The island of Vis has more natural sources of drinking water from the natural spring water reservoirs. The island is also home to twelve distinct types of island vegetation. Vis has been marked as one of the ten most environmentally preserved islands in the Mediterranean by the World Organization for Environmental Protection.

Attractions

Komiza is well known for its close proximity to the island of Bisevo which is visited by 10,000 tourists each year who come to see the unique Blue Cave (Modra Spilja) in the Adriatic Sea. Visitors can also see the St. Nicholas’ Convent monastery from the 13th century, the Kastel (Venetian Tower) in the harbor from the 16th century or Baroque sanctuary from the 16th century.

Komiza is home to Joze Borcic’s international ballet school where students perform ballet, pop, and modern jazz dances during the summer for the town entertainment.

Wine Making

Today wine making is done mostly for personal consumption. The money generated by winemaking is not enough to for a commercial industry. Grape harvest is performed in mid September, being field crushed and then fermented for 3-10 days. It is then pressed once and barrel aged for about 2-4 months. The pressed mash is reconstituted with water and allowed to ferment for a few more days and is pressed again, with this pressing being distilled and used to make the famous "Grappa". Generally the vines are sprayed once with insecticide and then blue stoned (copper sulfate) about four times during the growing season. The distillation of rosemary oil results in the production of up to 24,000 pounds of rosemary oil in a year. Bisevo, in the early 1900’s with a population of about 200 souls, was noted for bee-keeping and wild honey production. [ [http://www.komiza.com/story3.htm#INTERESTING The Story continued ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.tz-komiza.hr/ Tourist Board of Komiža]
* [http://www.dalmatien-tourist.eu/komiza/ Komiža info]
* [http://www.komiza.hr/ Official site of Komiža]