VIGANJ (CROATIA-PELJEŠAC), a village and small harbour to the west of the southern coast of the Peljesac Peninsula, 7 km west of Orebic, accross the water from Korcula Old Town. Situated in a large cove west of Cape Sveti Liberan, on the rim of a fertile flysh zone. Chief occupations are farming, fishing and tourism. The mountain excursion area Sveti Ilija (961 m) lies to the northeast of Viganj. Viganj is situated on the regional road running along the island.
First settlements on this area date back to the prehistoric and ancient periods. The parish church of St. Michael was erected in the Gothic period, expanded in 1760. - The shipowner Marko Krstelj had the Dominican monastery and church built in 1671. The church is a one-nave structure; the main altar is adorned with the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is also the wooden statue of Madonna with Child and a Renaissance bust of a saint. A cloister with an arcade in plain form is near the church.
Viganj is home to 300 inhabitants and has a long maritime tradition and many captain's houses. The remains of the Dominican monastery with its cloisters from the 17th century can be found in Viganj (today a school and restaurant) located next to the Church of Our Lady of Roses.
A picture of the maritime battle at Lepanta in 1571, and a wooden Gothic statue of Mother and Child from the 15th century are found on the altar. There are many gardens here with exotic plants, as well as gardens with homegrown vegetables.
Along with the maritime trade, more and more inhabitants are employed in the tourism business. In old seacharts the bay of Viganj is called Porto Rosario because the former Dominican Monastery was dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.
What to see?
· Not far from Viganj, on St. John cape there is a church bearing the same name with a beautiful view of Peljesac canal.
· sv.Ilija mountain
· Nakovana cage
· Pelješac channel
Today Viganj is becoming an interesting tourist resort with a crystal-clear sea and sunny beaches. This area is very well known as one of the most popular windsurfing and kitesurfing centre in Europe.