Curzola

“Curzola was the Korkyra Nigra of the ancients, so called on account of its dark woods to distinguish it from the other Korkyra (Corfu). Is it one of the few places in Dalmatia where the forest still remains, which is doubtless one reason why it is still the home of the now almost extinct European jackal. […]. Curzola is essentially Venetian. Here the galleys of the Republic were built, here the soldiers of the Doge kept a jealous eye on the Ragusan territory of Sabbioncella just across the water, and here they built a Venetian town in miniature rising from the water’s edge and crowned by the thirteenth-century Duomo (pp. 194-195). Here you will hear […] how the national dance, the “Moreska”, is still danced at festas, and a curious mediaeval play called the “Kumpanjija” takes place at the great cattle fair held at Blatta. You will hear too, alas! How the people of this lovely island are leaving it in increasing numbers every year to seek their fortunes in America by the huge emigrant steamers which sail for the new world weekly from Triest. It is becoming difficult in Curzola to find labourers to till the soil of its fruitful valleys, and you will doubtless wonder that the natives of this land can throw away their heritage of so much loveliness to seek for gold. But so it is, and sometimes one comes back who has prospered and fills his neighbours with emulation to go and do likewise (p. 200)”.