Municipality of Vela Luka

• Vela Spila is on the southern slope of Pinski rat hill, 130 m above Kale Bay in Vela Luka.
• The marked Hum hiking trail is 2.5 km long, takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and is considered easy.
• Vela Luka’s outdoor activities include more than 100 km of hiking and cycling trails.
• Lumblija is a ceremonial sweet bread and an aromatic dessert prepared in the run-up to All Saints’ Day.

Vela Spila is a major archaeological cave site in the Mediterranean region. The cave was inhabited from the late Palaeolithic to the Middle Bronze Age. Its location above Kale Bay connects the site with a precisely identifiable point in the landscape: it is on the southern slope of Pinski rat hill, 130 m above the bay in Vela Luka. The Vela Spila hiking trail leads from Vela Luka to the site.

The museum collections of the Vela Luka Cultural Centre also tell the story of the site. They are housed in a former school building constructed in the second half of the 19th century and include archaeological material from Vela Spila as well as works of modern and contemporary art. Visitors interested in both archaeology and art will find a range of cultural subjects to consider when planning their trip.

Visitors will also come across mosaics in Vela Luka’s public spaces, created during the international artists’ gathering of 1968. They can be found in public areas, along the promenades and in public institutions. Alongside the archaeological site and collections, public art is therefore also part of the town’s cultural character.

The fully marked Hum hiking trail starts at Gospa od zdravlja in Bobovišća. At 2.5 km long and with an approximate duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes, it offers specific details for planning your day; the trail is considered easy. It offers views of Vela Luka Bay, the sea and nearby islands. If you want to make the scenery as much a focus as the route itself, this trail is worth considering.

The fully marked Dub circular hiking trail also starts either at Gospe od zdravlja in Bobovišća or at the Tommy supermarket. It passes through wooded areas and offers views of Vela Luka and the surrounding area. These two starting points provide different options for choosing where to begin your route planning. No further route details are needed here to distinguish Dub as a circular trail through woodland with views, unlike Hum.

Beyond these two trails, Vela Luka’s outdoor activities include more than 100 km of hiking and cycling trails. The routes pass through centuries-old olive groves, along beaches, and through vineyards and pine forests. The variety of landscapes makes hiking and cycling distinct travel interests, while the details about Hum and Dub describe two specific trails in more depth. Ošjak is also a protected forest park.

Lumblija is a ceremonial sweet bread and an aromatic dessert prepared in Vela Luka in the run-up to All Saints’ Day. Its connection to this period gives the speciality a particular place in the annual calendar. If you plan to visit Vela Luka before All Saints’ Day, you can include Lumblija as a culinary and cultural highlight in your trip plans. The multi-day event “Stajun od lumblije” includes workshops where participants can make their first Lumblija.

Other specific reasons to visit focus on different interests: the Vela strka 22 km and Mala strka 11 km trail races start at the prehistoric site of Vela Spila. On the Camino Korčula, pilgrims visit Vela Luka individually and in larger and smaller organised groups. This lets you weigh culture, exercise and pilgrimage as different interests for your stay, without combining them into a single itinerary.

When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether the archaeological site and collections, marked hiking trails or culinary traditions are your main focus. To compare other destinations, you can also consult the pages for the Municipality of Blato and the Municipality of Korčula.

Where is Vela Spila?

Vela Spila is on the southern slope of Pinski rat hill, 130 m above Kale Bay in Vela Luka.

How long is the Hum hiking trail?

The fully marked trail is 2.5 km long. It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to walk and is considered easy.

Where does the Dub circular hiking trail start?

The fully marked circular trail starts either at Gospe od zdravlja in Bobovišća or at the Tommy supermarket.

What is Lumblija?

Lumblija is a ceremonial sweet bread and an aromatic dessert prepared in Vela Luka in the run-up to All Saints’ Day.

Back to the main travel overview: Korcula.