Komiža fishermen at the end of the world

Komiža fishermen have always been known for their courage and perseverance at sea. Their small gajetas and falkušas sailed far beyond the borders of the Adriatic, looking for new hunting grounds and opportunities for survival. But at the end of the 19th century, an undertaking took place that went down in history – a journey all the way to the very “end of the world”. The “Mardešić” factory from Komiža, which was already known for its fish processing and salting, decided to expand its business beyond the Adriatic. In search of rich sardine hunting grounds, their people reached the shores of Spain, to Cape Finisterre in Galicia. There, salting huts were built, and the Komiža fishermen continued to do what they knew best – to turn seafood into precious food that could be transported and sold around the world. The name Finisterre itself comes from the Latin “finis terrae” – the end of the earth. In Galician, it is pronounced Fisterra, and it is this name that has remained in the memory of the people of Komiža. Because, in their quest for the rich seas beyond the Adriatic, they reached the furthest point right here – to a place that the ancients truly considered the end of the world. Cape Fisterra is not just any place. It is the westernmost point of Europe and one of the most dangerous sea passages on the continent. Storms, fog and strong currents made it fatal for many sailors. There, on this wind-whipped point, the fishermen of Komiža encountered nature in its most merciless form. Yet their story is a testament to strength and determination. They were not afraid of distance or danger – what drove them was the search for fish, but also for a better life. Thus, Komiža, a small town on the edge of the Adriatic, wrote its pages in the far west of Europe. Even today, when Finisterre is mentioned, the people of Komiža proudly speak of their ancestors who had the courage to sail “to the end of the world”.