Exhibition in former military tunnel in Biševo marks 140th anniversary of Blue Cave

On the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the discovery of the Blue Cave in Biševo, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board joined the celebration by organizing an underwater photography exhibition titled ""Under the sea, under the earth" in the former military tunnel "Gatula" in Biševo.

The exhibition was officially opened on Thursday by the director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Ivana Vladović, prefect of Split-Dalmatia Blaženko Boban and the Mayor of Komiža, Tonka Ivcevic.

The exhibition shows underwater scenes of the Vis archipelago and other parts of the Adriatic water area. The authors of the photos are Dalibor Andres, Daniel Frka, Ivana Grgic,Damir Zurub, Marjan Radović, Srdjan Vrancic i Bozidar Vukicevic who have been faithfully recording and documenting the underwater world of the Adriatic for years.

It's about the best underwater photographers whose photographs have mostly won first places in world competitions, and whose work has been recognized with numerous domestic and international awards.

"We decided to combine this special anniversary of the Blue Cave with art, and this time it is the art of our underwater photographers and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for these beautiful scenes they captured for us. The biggest names in underwater photography joined us on this project, even those who don't know much about photography know what these names mean and represent. With this exhibition, we wanted to show how tourism should be something that enriches our nature, culture and heritage, and art is precisely the link that connects all of this into one beautiful story. We also want to pay tribute to our natural heritage and welcome everyone who wants to discover the essence of Dalmatia, which is gentle, full of traces of history and wonderful landscapes, and preserve it as such for all future generations." Vladovic said.

County Prefect Boban joined in the congratulations on the organization of such a unique event and emphasized that Komiža is truly the pearl of the Croatian Adriatic.

"There are many unusual things here in Komiža and Biševo, and the first bars of brass bands and klapa songs brought me back to the series "Malo misto", in my opinion one of the best series in this region. And then I come back to reality and see that we are not in "Malo misto" but in the pearl of the Croatian Adriatic, Komiža. There are so many events going on here at the moment, the Rota Sea Festival Palagruzona, the exhibition "Under the Sea, Under the Earth", the 140th anniversary of the Blue Cave... Therefore, I would like to thank the photographers first and foremost for giving us a unique opportunity to see what is "under the earth and under the sea". And you, the media, what you see and record today, pass on to the world, because this is truly the beauty of Croatia. – said Boban.

Ivčević pointed out that this exhibition is being held as part of the Rota Palagruzona Sea Festival, the most important event for all Komiža residents.This exhibition complements perfectly with the Rota Palagruzona Sea Festival, which celebrates our fishermen, of whom we are very proud and who have been fishing on the island of Palagruža and the Vis archipelago for centuries. I would like to thank all the authors who provided photographs, we will have a beautiful exhibition in the Gatula tunnel on Biševo all summer long, and I certainly invite all the people of Komiža and other visitors to visit this unique exhibition." concluded the mayor of Komiža.

Professor emeritus, poet and sailor joined this great and significant anniversary Joško Božanić who addressed the crowd with a recitation in the Komiža dialect, and the exhibition curator and photography editor at Slobodna Dalmacija Mother plant as well as numerous other guests.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was followed by a rowing regatta from Komiža to the Mezoporat Bay in Biševo. The photographs will be on display in the tunnel until October 1, 2024, and the exhibition will be open to all visitors until then.

The Viennese painter is responsible for the discovery of the Blue Cave Eugene Baron Ransonnet who is her 1884. discovered during his diving expedition. Its discovery marked the beginning of tourism in Dalmatia, and the Blue Cave has since become an unavoidable attraction of the Adriatic. 

Od 1951. The Blue Cave was protected as a geomorphological natural monument., and it is characterized by a light phenomenon that gives the rocks and seabed a sky-blue color that leaves no visitor indifferent.

Photo: Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board