Blato (Korcula)

The municipality has about 400 residents, and the town can be reached via the main island road from Smokvica which passes through the forested sections of the centre of Korcula. The town was built in the form of an amphitheatre on several hills surrounding a small central valley. A long alley of linden trees called Zlinja stretches through the valley, and in recent times, all the public buildings have been constructed here: the school, hotel, banks, shops, the municipal buildings, health clinics and others. In the old centre south of Zlinja, the triple nave parish Church of All Saints is located on the large tiled square. This church was first mentioned in the early middle ages, however, it was later adapted and extended several times, and its current appearance with the bell tower dates back to the 17th-18th centuries, the Baroque period. The main altar bears a painting by the Venetian master Girolama Da Santa Croce: the All Saints from 1540. The Chapel of St. Vincenza the martyr with its richly ornamented marble altar, holy water basin and liturgical silver ornaments, was added to the southern nave in the 18th century. The feast of this saint is celebrated on 28 April, which is also when the municipality of Blato celebrates its day. A great procession passes through the entire town, and a ceremonial gathering (Kumpanija) is held on the main square before the church. The building next to the church contains a valuable collection of art, precious documents, and archaeological finds tied to the history of Blato. On the square before the Church is the open Baroque loggia on columns, built in 1700. There are a great number of small churches and chapels in the town and the surrounding settlements. The oldest is St. Kuzma and Damjan from the 6th century, followed by St. Mary of the Fields, St. Martin and others. The Korcula nobility also built their castles and villas here, and an exceptional example is the Baroque Arneri summer residence in the middle of the town. The villa has been planned to house a local museum with collections of archaeology, history and ethnology. Today the residents of Blato are more involved in tourism and other economic branches, while there are several small industries: Radez and Triklop. The Knight's Association Kumpanija is very active, and the association, along with the fencing association of the same name, nurture the town's folklore, songs and culture. The cultural-artistic society Petar Milat also nurtures the musical and folklore traditions, while there are also many a capella singing groups and more. The paved road towards the north coast passes by both the old and new graveyard and takes you to the Prigradica harbour, where there is a hotel, several summer residences and small bed and breakfasts along the seashore, with beautiful beaches nearby. Blato is hometown to a number of modern Croatian artists, cultural participants, scientists, musicians and more. Mary of the Risen Christ Petkovic, a servant of God, was born in Blato in 1892. On 6 June 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified her at a ceremony in Dubrovnik.