Lastovo

 
 
 
 

June 19, 2009

This morning we departed our anchorage on Korcula for our next destination, the small island of Lastovo. Calm winds were again the order of the day, resulting in a a two-hour motoring southeast to Lastovo. We arrived at a small bay by the name of Zaklopatica, on the north side about noon for our overnight berthing.
Lastovo is without a doubt one of the most beautiful, unspoiled, pristine places we’ve seen so far; check out a few photos I’ve included. One of the reasons it’s so pristine is because Lastovo, along with Vis, being the westernmost islands of southern Dalmatia, were strategically important, defense-wise, and hence were used primarily for this purpose and not much else. But this has changed and the island is looking to tourism for its future. In terms of raw charm, its future looks rosy. (Although, several of us expressed apocalyptic visions of returning in 20 years to find Lastovo over-run with McDonalds Starbucks and Econo-Lodges.)
This afternoon we explored Lastovo Town, about 2 miles from the harbor, reachable by a narrow winding road, clinging precariously to the side of the mountain hundreds of feet above the sea …. simultaneously creating latent nervousness and breathtaking views.
The town itself is medieval, dating back to the 1400’s. Built on the hillsides around a valley, it actually created a sort of giant amphitheatre. At the peak of the town is the fort or garrison, from which a dominating view of the sea could be had.