Potomje is a place where one of best known Croatian red wines is grown – dingač. This old settlement is located in the central part of Pelješka Župa, 300 m above the sea level and 2.5 km away from the sea and 15 km southeast from Orebić. It is famous for having a perfect climate with fresh nights, ideal for summer vacation. Situated in the western part of the wine growing area of dingač wine sort, it is the central production of the best Croatian red wines in (dingač, postup, plavac).
An extraordinary tourist attraction, a 400 m long tunnel, has been built in order to facilitate the access to the southern slopes, directed to the open sea. As you come out of the tunnel you’ll be on a road that leads to two villages, Potočina being on the right, and Borak on the left side. Both villages are ideal vacation spots, offering its visitors the memorable moments in surrounding of a pine forest and clean sea in a beachfront ambience. Before the tunnel had even been built, people used to go all the way over the hill to cultivate their wine grapes, olives and other. But, in those times everything had to be carried manually (tools, grapes, olives and other things) and this wasn’t easy thing to do even though sometimes donkeys and mules assisted them and carried the cargo. However, these jobs were physically demanding for both people and animals, so on their return they needed to stop on the top of the hill and have a rest. Even today there is a witness these bygone times, a free-standing stone cross, built by people from Potomje. Religious heritage of this wine growing area is very rich and interesting, and it comprises 5 churches: the 14th century St Peter’s Church situated at the Potomje cemetery; Saint Thomas Church above Potomje is an improved early baroque work with three bell towers; St George’s Church is located on the hill of the same name above Potomje.
A small St Lucia’s Church in Potomje is a private chapel of the Šimunković family, raised in the 19th century next to the yard of their family house. Above the elegant portal is a public clock, and on the top of the portal is a metal gloriette for a bell, while the St Vitus Church is in the middle of a field directed to Kuna, characterized by a semicircle apse in a Romanesque style.
Information by: visitorebic-croatia.hr
D. Šabić