Korita, Dubrovnik-Neretva County

For other uses, see Korita.

Korita is an inland village^[4] on the island of Mljet in southern Croatia. In 2021, its population was 52.^[2]

Korita
Village
Korita Location of Korita in Croatia
Coordinates: 42.7087036°N 17.6943271°E / 42.7087036; 17.6943271
Country	Croatia
County	Dubrovnik-Neretva County
Municipality	Mljet
Area [1]
• Total	3.4 sq mi (8.7 km2)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	52
• Density	15/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code[3]	20225 Babino Polje
Area code	+385 (0)20

Name

The village gets its name from natural stone hollows (korito: a trough) that would fill with water during rainy periods.^[5]

History

Due to its geographical placement, Korita held strategic value for observing the Mljet Channel and the adjacent open sea. Throughout history, Korita was one of the larger settlements on the island.^[5]

The village of Korita came into existence during the 15th century, following the destruction of Okuklje and people moving from Žara.^[5]

A tower that stands in the middle of the village was originally built to defend against pirate attacks. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the residents focused on fishing, particularly catching and selling salted sardines, which brought considerable wealth to the area. During this time, nobles from Dubrovnik, Ston, and other regions settled in Korita, giving it the characteristics of a more urban settlement.^[5]

The sudden vanishing of sardines late in the 18th century caused Korita to fall into poverty. This led to many people leaving the village, and a subsequent plague caused many deaths.^[5]

The long-term settlement of the town, as well as the island, is evidenced by the excavations of the church of St. Paul from the 5th century and the remains of a villa rustica from the 1st century.^[6]

Demographics

Village of Korita: Population trends 1857–2021

v

population	135	128	141	135	120	153	132	141	163	164	186	168	115	90	74	46	52
	1857	1869	1880	1890	1900	1910	1921	1931	1948	1953	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011	2021

Sources:Croatian Bureau of Statistics publications

Landmarks

Korita features several historical churches:^[5]

St. Vid Chapel

a 16th century church with the village cemetery

Gospa od Brijega

a church dating back to the 14th century (an old local cemetery is nearby, and it's thought that a larger settlement called Seoce existed here in the 14th and 15th centuries)

St. Ilija (Elias) Chapel

a church from the 16th century. St. Elias is the local patron saint, whose feast is observed in Korita on July 20th

Church of St. Mark

St. Clare's house

Gallery

• 
  Tower
• 
  St. Vid Chapel
• 
  Gospa od Brijega Church
• 
  St. Ilija Chapel