Stone towns of Vis (5) Our Lady’s battery

The main reason for my visit to Vis this year was the stories about the Stone towns of Vis, into which the Lady’s Battery / Batteria della Madonna / Our Lady’s Fort / Baterija fortress / Baterija fit perfectly. Oh, how many names for one mighty fortress!

Everyone who comes to Vis must walk from the ferry port to Kut, because this unique lungomare is an unmissable attraction where you can see a lot. Some look at beautiful ships, some visit restaurants and bars, and some admire the beautiful architecture. And I did that every time I visited Vis, several times.

Vis, Photo: Adria fun

Somewhere in the middle of that idyllic promenade is the Lady’s Battery, the main fortress built by Austria during its control of the island. It was in the thirties of the nineteenth century in a place called Levaman.

In the carefully designed Austrian system of defense of the island and its port of war, the Lady’s battery has a special place as the last point of Vis’ defense in the event of enemy penetration into the interior of the port of war. She even played a significant role during the Battle of Vis in 1866, as her crew damaged the Italian ship Formidabile in a direct conflict.

Our Lady’s battery, Photo: Adria fun

The Italians did not occupy the island then, but a few years later. After the island was occupied by Italy, the fort was renamed Baterria della Madonna, and as a witness of that time, the stone slab above the main entrance was damaged.

Our Lady’s battery, Photo: Adria fun

The battery is surrounded by a ditch about two meters deep, and the defensive walls are slanted and made of beautifully worked stone. The entrance is on the eastern side, which used to be used to enter the spacious yard via a movable wooden bridge.

Our Lady’s battery, Photo: Adria fun

I also wanted to enter, but at the time of my visit, Lady’s Battery was unfortunately closed. Theater performances, poetry evenings, and exhibitions are also held in that courtyard.

Our Lady’s battery, Photo: Adria fun

On the southern side of the fort, there is also a ruddy cannon that reminds us of ancient times and the battles that were fought there. I can only imagine the deafening noise of the gunboats firing in the direction of the enemy ships. Buuuum…

Our Lady’s battery, Photo: Adria fun

But those times are far behind us and now Lady’s Battery is home to the Archaeological Museum, which houses three valuable and different collections. So you can see Greek dishes dating back to the 3rd-1st centuries BC and which the Issatian Greeks used in their everyday life. There is also a stone relief of the Roman god Mars made in the 1st-2nd century, as well as three stone heads.

Archaeological Museum, Photo: Ivo Biočina, Croatian Tourist Board

The second part of the collection deals with the fishing of Vis. The central exhibit is the bow of a fishing boat placed as if it had just been hauled out. On it and around it there are fishing tools and ship’s equipment: spear, oist, oar, boat pump, anchor, net, feral, and other items. The third part of the exhibit shows civic furniture, items related to shipbuilding, viticulture, transportation of goods, and contemporary history.

In the Archaeological Museum, you can also see the Hydroarchaeological collection of amphorae from the Vela Svitnja bay, as well as a collection of Hellenistic monuments and a copy of the bronze head of the goddess Artemis.

Archaeological Museum, Photo: Ivo Biočina, Croatian Tourist Board

The fascinating history of Lady’s Battery, but also its present-day purpose, is certainly a good reason to visit it, so be sure to plan it when your trip takes you to this island!

This publication was co-financed by the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media.