History of
Sucuraj
3.Mediaeval Sucuraj
In the 7th and 8th
century came the Croats and colonized Neretva valley, coast, peninsula Peljesac
of course island Hvar. In this colonization Sucuraj was an eminent location, because
of its position. It's hard to imagine colonization of the middle dalmation
islands without occupying the east cape of the island Hvar – Sucuraj. Sucuraj
harbour was a first a very convenient location for the pirates from Neretva.
There are archaeological findings that the population for security from pirate
attacks made a town further away from the harbour in the fields surrounding
Sucuraj. The Neretva-pirates were baptized after the year 870. In the court
yard of the church of St. George are remains of the base of a 9th century
chapel. On these bases in the 13th century Augustine fathers built a church (picture 1 and 2) dedicated to St. George, it is
mentioned in the Hvar statute from 1331. The church was destroyed in the 19th
century, after witch a new church was built. Sucuraj got its name form that
church (Sucuraj = St. Georges city). The Augustine’s made the monastery in
Sucuraj; it has been ruined and restored many 
times. This monastery
still exists today. On the doorway there is an in scription: COENOBIVM ORDINIC
FRATRVM EREMI. TARVM S. AVGVSTINI. MCCCIX RASTAVRATVM (Monastery of the hermit
brothers of St. Augustine, restored 1309). The monastery vas restored in 1309
because it was burnt-dovn in 1280 by Omis pirates. Mediaeval Sucuraj was
consisted of more than one settlement. The first was near Mlaska bay, devasted
by the Turks in 1526. Most of mediaeval population of Sucuraj lived in old
Sucuraj near the fields, the remains can still be seen. The third settlement was
in nowadays Gornja Banda.
If you want to find out
about Sucuraj in the Venice time and battles with Turks - click here!