Blato

Blato is the oldest settlement in the island of Korcula. Its name derives from the name of the field in the western part of the village. Blato has been mentioned in church documents in 1144. as the organised town with larger number of inhabitants. As a settlement, Blato is significantly older, as the archeological findings go all the way to the 4th century. From the 7th century on, the island of Korčula gets settled by Croats, and so Blato becomes a croatian settlement. Until then, it was a roman settlement. Large number of churches, chapels and vowed chapels indicate that Blato's inhabitants were christians from the oldest times. The remains of at least 10 small castles of Blato's noblemen indicate that the period between 9th and 13th century was marked with intrusions by Venetians and pirates. In 16th century, Blato covers the area in which todays Blato is situated: Vela strana, Zlenja and Mali and veli Učijak. That area is settled by a large number of inhabitants. According to records, in 1670 Blato had 1400 inhabitants, in 1820. - 2591, and in 1900. - 6000 inhabitants. Winegrowing is the main occupations and economy at that time. Since 18th century, citizens of Blato are mainly producing wine. In 1903. the level of production reached 980 vagons of wine; exported across Europe, mainly to Vienna and Budapest through ports of Trieste and Rijeka ports. The vinyards were located across the surrounding hills, as the field was regularly flooded by winter.  In 1910., 1911., the 2,24 km long tunel was digged from the Blato field to the bay of Bristva, to take out all the water from the field. It was a first meliorative project in Dalmatia. Now the field secure from the floods enlarged the growing area, and made significant income to most of Blato's inhabitants. The wine sorts were all localy based. Unfortunately, that same vinyards were completely destroyed by filoksera, the sickness of the wine trees. The consequences were harsh and caused one of the biggest exoduses in Croatian history. Most of Blato's people fled to the overseas countries like Argentina, Brazil and most of them to Australia. In 1925., from the port of Prigradica, only in one day, 1250 citizens boarded a ship to flee into the unknown... Apart from winegrowing, the people of Blato were involved in production of olive oil and fishing. The bays of Prigradica on the Northern end, and Prizba and Grscica on the Southern side of the Blato county, have always been the safeports of Blato's fishermen and their boats. After the 2nd world war, Blato went through industrialisation which until today remained as main branch of economy. The beauty of Blato and its surrounding bays and coves, especialy Prigradica, Prizba and Karbuni, carried out the development of tourism, which is nowadays becoming a main economy of Blato. Hardworking people of Blato have also given prominent members to the intelectual and cultural areas. Blato's citizens were also well known masons, smiths and many artists. In the atmosphere of impressive church of All Saints and patron St. Vincentia, the glory of God's mercy is present through activity of Marija Petkovic Kovac, who formed an order of Sisters of Mercy, 3rd row of St. Frank, in 1919. approved by the church highest officials. This order has spread to the american continent and today has 46 monesteries with 500 sisters. Pope John Paul II beatified Marija Petkovic Kovac in 2003. during his visit to Dubrovnik. Her remains are kept in sanctuary of Sisters of Mercy in Blato. All mentioned stresses that Blato is a town of great natural, cultural and spiritual treasure, carried out by its people throughout haomeland and across the world, and obliged its todays citizens to maintain and develop its most imoprtant values and tradition.