Gabela, rich archeological site on the right bank of the river Neretva, 5 kilometers south of Čapljina, was declared as a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002. Till today, from numerous medieval buildings in Gabela, remains of old city walls has been saved as well as stone board with lion image created in bass relief, symbol of Venetian Republic.
From XV. to XVII. century, Gabela was a big market place, but also a very important strategic fort on Venetian – Turkish boarder. In documents in archives of Dubrovnik, in Latin forms the Mercantum Narenti, Forum Narenti or Narentum is mentioned, but often also in Croatian Driva or Drijeva (boat).
It is very visible from the title (gabella, Venetian custom) the importance of Gabela as a market place in which goods were flowing from Dubrovnik and Venice: salt, oil, wine, fabrics, glass, weapons and luxury goods, and from the inside: wood, meet, corn, wool, honey and cheese. For some time it was known as a square of slaves.
For ascendant of Gabela, many political and economic interests were interfering. The first attack on Gabela was in 1466, when the Turks tried to occupy it, which came to success around the year of 1477. After many unsuccessful attempts in 1694 it was occupied by Venetians. Still, by Pozarevac Treaty in 1718., Gabela was passed to Turks, and by retreat of Venetians, a big part of fort and defense walls were demolished and mined. Gabela is again under Turks administration, but without its former power.
Gabela attracted attention of world’s publicity in the end of the last century when the Mexican scientist Roberto Salinas Price, who studied the Iliad and Odyssey, developed hypothesis that is, according to the geographical information in Iliad’s, Trojan War was in the valley of the river Neretva, that is, and that Gabela was ancient Homers Troy.
