Lukovic Palace

Luković Palace is situated within one of the most important complexes in Prčanj, known as “Luković Street”. The palace belonged to the prominent family Luković from Prčanj. A family chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Carmen, with the coat-of-arms of the family above the entrance, was built in the immediate vicinity of the palace. The chapel is adjoined by a row of 11 Baroque houses with characteristic balconies, all of which belonged to the family clan Luković.

Tradition has it that the Lukovićs had great wealth and some stories still mention the warehouses full of golden ducats, silverware and chandeliers and how on the feast day of the family’s patron Lady of Carmen, they used to decorate the balcony and all the windows of the palace with ducats and other valuables from their treasury.

The complex of Luković Palace was created by joining two buildings, one built in the 17th century and the other in the mid-18th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, the palace still had its original interior, with the original layout of rooms, decoration and furniture. In the mid-20th century the palace was converted into a school. This change was reflected in alterations of the palace’s authentic appearance. After the earthquake of 1979, the palace has remained unused.

The entrance to the palace was reached by an impressive stairway made of Korčula stone. The lobby was decorated with paintings and gold plated stucco decorations on the ceiling. The first floor was designed as “piano nobile”, with its lavishly decorated salon, which, unfortunately, has not been preserved. The salon was decorated in the mid-18th century by the Swiss artist Karlo de Nedrocis, recorded in an inscription above the portal. The walls, which were painted green and decorated with white stucco decorations, were hung with paintings and Venetian mirrors with gold plated, wooden carved frames. The ceiling was specially decorated with Baroque motifs in stucco and depictions of angels and baskets of flowers and fruits. The central part of the ceiling contained a large bas-relief, which depicted ancient deities connected with the sea and seafaring: Poseidon, Artemis, Galatea, Tritons and Dolphins. The floor was covered with red-and-yellow terra cotta tiles – “tavele”. Above the door of the salon the initials AL and JL were inscribed, denoting Andrija and Jozo Luković during whose lifetime the salon was decorated and other works on the palace done.

The salon of the Luković family was frequented by Venetian dukes residing in Kotor. In 1797 a party was given in the palace in honour of Baron Tom Brady, the Austrian governor of Boka. During the siege of Kotor in 1814, the English colonel Hoste, who was a commander of the allied troops against the French, stayed in the palace.

Salon Lukovića su rado posjećivali mletački providuri iz Kotora, a u njemu je 1797. godine bilo priređeno zabavno veče u počast austrijskom guverneru Boke, baronu Tomi Bradyu. Za vrijeme opsade Kotora 1814. u palati Luković je imao svoj stan engleski pomorski pukovnik (komodor) Hoste, zapovjednik savezničke vojske u Boki protiv Francuza.