In the times of the Republic of Ragusa,
Koločep was an important shipbuilding site. Two members of Christopher
Columbus’ crew on the Santa Maria were sailors from the island. Archaeological
remnants of ancient European conquerors have been found on the island: from the
ancient times of Greece and Rome to the Napoleonic times. The island has seven
pre-Romanesque churches dating back to the times of Croatian kings, from the
9th to the 11th century
