Contact informations:

   Ivan Milat

   Kuciste 47

   20267 Kuciste

   Croatia

           Phone:   +385-20-719-172

           Cell Ph.: +385-98-296-024

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CROSurf >>> Location

Kuciste and Zamosce

Kuciste lies in a gentle bay on northern coast of Peljesac Channel, facing medieval Korcula. Protected by the hill of Sv.Ilija (961m), it has a mild climate with over 300 sunny day a year. Kuciste is situated on the road from Orebic to Loviste 6 km from Orebic. From Kuciste road further leads to Viganj, then, over the mountain and ancient village Nakovana, reaching last village on Peljesac - Loviste. Kuciste and Viganj are separated by Liberan - the small promontory with white pebble beach, which, under the strokes of south and west winds, twists, changes its shape and returns to its previous state again. In the core of village are post-office, tourist-office, school, shop, bar and restaurant (temporary closed).  Eastern bound of Kuciste is Perna, newest part of Kuciste. Other settlements of Kuciste are Zukovac and Bilopolje (on the hills, above Kuciste), and finally Bay of Zamosce with long, white pebble beach. Our house is situated in Zamosce.

Kuciste - history and architecture

Kuciste has long maritime tradition, and together with Orebic creating nest of Peljesac sailors. The core of the village dates back to the 16th century; in the 19th century it spread along the bay by the construction of free standing captain houses in the style of Dubrovnik summer mansions. The most interesting are the houses of the trading and maritime - Lazarovic family: a late Renaissance two-storey house and a Baroque mansion from the end of the 18th century. The church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1752; it is one of the most important Baroque churches on the southern Croatian coast. The cemetery features a small Gothic church of St. Luke from the 14th century. Above the core, on hill, lies St. Nuncijata (ital. Annunziata).

Bay Of Zamosce

Zamosce is settlement of Kuciste about 1 km east of the core of village. Along the whole bay is pebble beach, except in center where was built shelters for boats. In centre of bay is our house, restaurant Zamosce, while Camp Palme (with small coffee bar) occupy east half of bay. Beach is extending toward the east, where is situated tourist complex "Perna" with huge camp and hotel "Komodor". In "Perna" are several small bars, shops and terrace with live music.

Further east is settlement Perna with two restaurants, and above Perna on hill is Bilo Polje. Between Zamosce and Perna is situated small church - St. Ana, also on hill.

Zukovac - ancient village

Kuciste lies below hills (Saint Ilija is highest peak on peninsula with his 961m). Today hills only make shelter from Bura, strong NE wind, but in the past was different story. People used to live on hills; they cultivated the land and had livestock there. Land feed them and hills giving them protection from sight of attackers from sea. Village of Zukovac is one of such villages (Nakovana is similar village above Viganj). In Zukovac, in the year 1355 already lived 8 families and maximum population village reach 1832. with 173 habitants. When tourism begins to develop, people move down to shore. Today houses in village deteriorating, but still shows what was there long, long time ago… Hills also giving You a fine view on Peljesac Channel and Island of Korcula.

Don’t miss this, just 10 minutes of walking form Our House.

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Peljesac

From the crossroads near the Kuta Bay on the Adriatic Highway the Peljesac road leads westwards and then, after several kilometres, turns to the right through olive-groves. On the right is the view to the Mali Ston Channel and in front the view to Mali Ston. The hamlet on the right is Zamaslina. In the Kuta Bay there are devices for cultivation of oysters and mussels. In small inns at the coast local specialities (mussels, oysters, dried ham “Prsut” and cheese) can be found.

The road leads through rocks and again Mali Ston with its defence walls is in sight. Half-way to the top of the hill are the old bulwarks of Ston.

PELJESAC, peninsula in southern Dalmatia, between the Neretva Channel (Neretvanski kanal) and the Mali Ston Channel (Kanal Malog Stona) "little sea" in the northeast and the Peljesac Channel (Peljeski kanal) and Mljet Channel (Mljetski kanal) "big sea” in the southwest. After Istria the largest peninsula of the Croatian coast. From the isthmus at Ston to Loviste promontory in the northwest the penin­sula is 65 km in length. Limestone ridges extending along the coast enclose between them the wine produc­ing region Zupa in the centre of the peninsula (Kuna, Potomje, Zupanje Selo, Pijavicino, Janjina). The highest point is Sveti Ilija (961 m). The northeast coast of the peninsula, which is exposed to north­-easterly winds (bura), is colder and drier than the southwest coast, which owes its warmer and more humid climate to the southerly winds. The northern districts are under pine-woods and scrub while the southwest regions produce even oranges. The villages are mostly in the centre of the peninsula. The inhabi­tants are mainly engaged in wine growing (famous "Dingac" wine, “Plavac” and “Postup” and “Prosek” the so-called "baked wine"; wine cellars at Potomje and Ston), livestock rearing and fishing. 

Since the beginning of the 19th century jackals live on the peninsula, and since 1922 also ichneumon imported from the island of Mljet. Important industries are production of salt (the Ston salt works) and cultivation of oyster beds. The area between Viganj and Orebic on, the south coast of the peninsula is the most beautiful art of Peljesac. A road running the length of the peninsula ("Transversal of Peljesac") links its settlements with Dubrovnik; ferries Orebic - Korcula and Trpanj - Ploce. 

In prehistoric times the peninsula was inhabited by Illyrians (grave-mounds and remains of a stone work above the village of Podlastica near Orebic, minor finds from Kuciste, the Janjina area and the Ston isthmus). Greek coins excavated at Viganj and fragments of Greek pottery offer evidence of the presence of Greek colonists. Finds from Roman times are more numerous (Orchid, Viganj, Sutvid Cove, Lovisce, Trpanj, Zuljana, Ston, Sreser and the Janjina area). Pliny the Elder called Peljesac Rhatanae Chersonsus (from which the mediaeval names Art, Rat, Stonski rat were derived), the settlement which stood on the site on present-day Ston was called Pardua (Stamnes). After the fall of the Western Empire PeIjesac changed hands several times and was in turn a possession of Byzantium, of Slavs from the Neretva valley (about the 9th c.), of the rules of Zahumlje, and finally of the Dubrovnik Republic (1333-1808). - Traces from the Early Christian and the pre-Romanesque periods can be seen at Ston (the churches of St. Martin, St. Peter, Our Lady [Gospa od Luzina], St. Magdalene [Sveta Mandalje­na], St. Michael [Sveti Mihajlo], with mural paintings), at Janjina (St. George [Sveti Juraj]) and at Ponikve. From the la­te Middle Ages date the mediaeval tombstones (stecci) at Ston, Osobljava, Tomislavovac and Potomje and the Gothic Franciscan monasteries at Stan and Orebic, while the fortifications of Ston which are among the oldest for­tresses in coastal regi­ons, were erected bet­ween 1333 and 1613. The economic prosperity of Peljesac from the 17th c. onwards was linked with the development of the local shipping industry. This prosperity was also reflected in considerable building activity, especially on the south coast of peninsula (houses of sea captains and baroque churches in Orebic, Viganj and Kuiciste). - Pe­ljesac is under French rule from 1808-14, and the Bri­tains hold the south coast (Zagorje) and Ston, from 1813-14. Since 1814 it is under the Austrian rule. Peljesac played an important role during the National Liberation War in Dalmatia.

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