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The monastery church was built in 1486 by
Mihoc Radisic; the main portal features the relief of Madonna, a work by
an anonymous disciple of N. Fiamberti; in the church is another relief
of Madonna, made by Nikola Firentinac (Nicholas of Florence). - On the
hill above the monastery is a Gothic church, restored in Baroque style,
dedicated to Our Lady of Karmen. Next to it are ancient sarcophagi and
several age-old, huge cypresses, as well as a Baroque loggia and the
ruins of the Trstenica duke's castle.
Since ancient times Orebic has developed as a mari-time centre (the town
was named after a family that gave several captains). The Peljesac
Shipping Society was founded in 1865 and had as many as 33 ocean
clippers (sailing ships). As one of the largest shipping societies on
the Mediterranean, it also opened its own shipyard. When steamers
replaced sailing ships, the Society and Orebic suffered very bad times.
However, navigation remained the most appreciated occupation in Orebic
and on the Peljesac Peninsula.
Today, Orebic is an important tourist
resort, offering various accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments),
long sand beaches, numerous small coves and clear seawater, as well as
sports and recreational facilities and opportunities (tennis courts,
football; yachting, windsurfing), outstanding gastronomic offer -
especially seafood and famous Peljesac wines (Dingac, Postup) - and
pleasant walks in the surroundings. The cemetery near the church of Our
Lady of Karmen above Orebic, the final resting place of Peljesac-born
captains, offers a beautiful view on the island and the town of Korcula,
as well as on numerous islets in the Pelje-sac Channel. Below the
Franciscan monastery and the church is a forest of cypress, protected as
a -forest park. The ships passing through the Peljesac Channel sound
their sirens to greet the church of their patron saint and the resting
place of deceased captains, and are replied by sounding of the monastery
bells.
Close to the monastery is the village of Karmen with several mediaeval
monuments. It is the starting point of walking tours to the picturesque
upper villages of Ruskovici, Stankovici and Podvlastica. One of the
favourite ascents to the peak of Sveti -Ilija (St. Elias) (961 m) also
starts here.
Numerous traditional religious feasts take place in Orebic and the
surroundings, the most notable being the feast day of Our Lady of Karmen
(16th of July). Theatre tours are organized in the summer months, as
well as other cultural events and entertainment programs.
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