Samograd Špilja


Useful Information

Location: Island of Korcula, 1.5 km east of the village of Racisce.
Open:
Fee:
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: bring torch
Dimension: A=165 m, L=120 m, D=45 m, T=15.5 to 15.9 °C.
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography: Roman Ozimec (2003): Spilja Samograd na otoku Korculi, Speleolog 2002-2003 pp 38-47 pdf
Address:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1894 mentioned in the Gjurgjevica Newspaper, spilja u Samogradu kod Racisca na otoku Korculi (Cave in Samograd near Racisca on the Island of Korcula).
1913 cave visited by coleopterologists Josef Müller and Giuseppe Messa from Trieste, Egon Pretner from Ljubljana and Krsto Mussap from Korcula.
1950s cavers Marinko Gjivoje and Srecko Bozicevic explore the cave.
1952 Archaeological excavation by Grga Novak. Finds included Hvar and Neolithic pottery.
1970 Arachnologists Christina Deeleman-Reinbold from the Netherlands and Josef Kratochvil from the Czech Republic visit the cave.

Description

The entrance is on the eastern slopes of Samograd Hill. The cave consist of two large chambers, when viewed in cross-section, they appear as a V. The entrance is at the top of the western arm of the V.

Samograd Cave is one of the rare sites of the 5,500 year old Hvar Culture and in unusually rich in biospeleological finds. Or is it such an easy cave that biospeleologists congregate here in droves?


Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.


The bays Vaja and Samograd are located on the northern coast of Korcula, west of Račišće. There is no road, but the beaches are the destination of bathing trips by boat from Račišće. There is also the Samograd Cove Trail, starting at the city limits. In the center of the cove is the cross of St. Liberan. Following the valley to the south it is about 300 m to the cave. The cave entrance may be covered by a bush. Samograd cave is said to be the largest and most beautiful cave on the island of Korcula. Bring appropriate clothes, shoes and torches.