Visit of Pope Alexander III.

There is a moment in the history of Komiža that stands out as special and unrepeatable, an event that connected this small community of fishermen and farmers to the highest peak of the Christian world. It is about the visit of Pope Alexander III, which took place in the 12th century, at a time when the Adriatic was an important maritime route and the scene of numerous historical encounters and conflicts. On his journey to Venice, Pope Alexander III sailed the sea accompanied by ten galleys. After long days of sailing, on March 9, 1177, on the very day of Ash Wednesday, he landed on Palagruža. This remote islet, which for centuries served as a landmark for fishermen from Komiža and the wider Adriatic, became a place of historical significance that day. A reception was held on the plateau of Mala Palagruža, and the place where the Pope stopped has since been called the Pope's Field. That name has been preserved through the centuries, passed down in tradition and in the collective consciousness, as a reminder of the event that connected this corner of the Adriatic with the highest spiritual authority of Europe at that time. For Komiža and its people, that visit had a special meaning. With his arrival, Pope Alexander III made Komiža the first Croatian place to be visited by a pope. This gave the small fishing village, located on the edge of the Adriatic, its place in the great history of Europe. Although the visit was short, the story of that day has been passed down for centuries. The Pope's Field has remained a permanent reminder that even the smallest places, thanks to a combination of circumstances, can become part of a larger historical story. For the people of Komiža, it was a moment of pride and confirmation of their connection with the great events of that time.