Babino Polje

Is the central and largest inhabited area with around 350 people, its surrounded with alpine woods and fields of olives and vineyards. From the Zahumlje era the pre-Romanesque church of St Pancras, St Andrew and St Michael remain. There is also a 15th century Gothic parish church and a Renaissance manor which has distinctive features. Not far from town lie several caves, one known as Odysseus’s cave which is hidden away under this village and is accessed by a 30metre tunnel used as a harbour by local fishermen. According to Homer, Odysseus found shelter here after surviving a shipwreck on his way back home from the Trojan War. He stayed seven years after falling in love with the island and the nymph Calypso, daughter of Poseidon.