Tag: Dubrovnik travel guide

Dubrovnik
EuropeMediterranean

7 Sights to See in Dubrovnik

on October 29, 2021

A trip to Dubrovnik is like a step back in time. As soon as you enter the city gates, you’ll be transported to a world filled with lively squares, awe-inspiring fortresses, and ornate palaces. But what’s even more breathtaking is that the city is perched directly on the shimmery blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.

One of the best ways to explore Dubrovnik is by getting lost amongst the labyrinth of cobbled streets and hidden alleys, soaking in the old-world atmosphere that predates modern life by almost 1,500 years. Along the way, stop to visit these historic sites and see why Dubrovnik has earned its rightful title as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.”

Rector’s Palace

With Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural elements, Rector’s Palace is one of the most stunning buildings in all of Dubrovnik. However, this architectural masterpiece has gone through its fair share of turmoil since it was constructed in the 14th-century.

Over the course of 200 years, the building was burned to the ground, destroyed in a gunpowder explosion, and damaged by two separate earthquakes. As a result, multiple architects contributed to its reconstruction over the years, giving Rector’s Palace a unique style that incorporates centuries of architectural design.

The inside of Rector’s Palace is equally as noteworthy as it’s now home to the Cultural History Museum of Dubrovnik.

Dominican Monastery

Nestled on the upper east side of the city walls is the Dominican Monastery. At first glance, it looks like many other buildings in the old city with its terra cotta-colored roof and fortress-like stone façade. However, its signature feature is the imposing bell tower which overlooks the port of Dubrovnik.

Inside the monastery, you’ll find one of the most impressive collections of art, from iconic painters including Lovro Dobričević, Nikola Božidarević, and even Titan. But the art pales in comparison to the monastery’s Gothic-Renaissance cloister, which was constructed by Florentine sculpter Maso di Bartolomeo.

Luža Square

Bustling at all hours of the day, Luža Square is the beating heart of Dubrovnik’s local life. Not only is it bordered by some of the city’s most notable buildings, including the Church of St. Blaise, Sponza Palace, and the iconic Dubrovnik clocktower. At its center stands Orlando’s Column, a monument depicting a medieval knight with a sword and shield.

The best time to visit is in the early morning or late afternoon when you can grab a table at one of the neighboring cafes and watch locals going about their day.

Sponza Palace

Unlike other buildings in Dubrovnik, the stately Sponza Palace is one of the only structures to survive the devastating earthquake in 1667. You can’t miss it – the arched Renaissance portico and sculptured Gothic windows make it an eye-catching sight as it looms over Luža Square.

Sponza Palace has had multiple functions over the past few centuries. It was a customs office, armory, treasury, bank, and mint manufacture, although it’s currently home to the city archives.

St. John’s Fortress

A testament to Dubrovnik’s medieval defense system, the monumental St. John’s Fortress stands a military watchman guarding the old harbor. During times of invasion, the fortress could close up the port with heavy chains at first sight of encroaching pirates or enemy ships.

It’s built into part of the old city walls, so you’ll be able to visit the upper terrace and century-old canons as you make your way around the perimeter. However, it’s also worth stepping foot inside the fortress, which is now an aquarium and maritime museum.

Old City Walls

For one of the best views in Dubrovnik, take an exhilarating walk along the ancient city walls. Built in the 9th-century, these fortified walls once protected the heart of the city against invaders. While the walls are an impressive feat on their own (they’re 20-feet thick and 80-feet high in some places), it’s the breathtaking birds-eye-view over the red-roofed city and sparkling Adriatic that makes them worth climbing.

The panoramic path encircles the entire city clocks in at 1.2 miles, so it’s a relatively long walk to see all the sites. In addition to the spectacular water views, you’ll also pass by watchtowers, drawbridges, and fortresses.

Stradun

Dissecting through the old town from east to west is the limestone-paved walkway referred to as Stradun. For nearly 700 years, Stradun has been the main thoroughfare of Dubrovnik. Not much has changed since it was constructed after the 1667 earthquake, so you’ll be able to experience life like an authentic Dubrovnik local.

Start at Pile Gate and meander towards Orlando Column at the other end, admiring the Baroque houses, charming cafes, and local storefronts flanked on either side of the street. As one of Croatia’s most fascinating cities, Dubrovnik is a must-see for history lovers and culture buffs. Whether you’re exploring the fortresses, admiring the exquisite architecture, or simply soaking in the fresh sea breeze from atop the ancient walls, there’s plenty to see in this magnificent city. Visit Dubrovnik on several different tours to Croatia with Gate 1 Travel.

Dubrovnik
EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Take a Walk Around Dubrovnik, Literally

on February 14, 2020

To understand the civilized nature of those who governed the Republic of Ragusa—as the city of Dubrovnik was known from 1358 to 1808—look no further than the city’s motto. In Latin, it read, “Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro.” Liberty is not well sold for all the gold.

But the liberty and freedom of Dubrovnik required more than these simple high ideals to protect it from outside influence. It also needed a fortified wall. And so in the 14th century the early founders of the city, fresh off a strained allegiance to the Venetian Republic and recovering from the Black Death of 1348, began work on a barricade that would grow and evolve over hundreds of years. Today, it stands as one of the largest and most complete medieval walls in all of Europe. So solid was its construction that it was never breached. And so perfectly did it help preserve Dubrovnik that George Bernard Shaw, upon visiting in 1929, wrote, “If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.”

It’s easy to understand Shaw’s enchantment. His sentiment was likely an appraisal of the city’s narrow byways and incredibly preserved buildings. But perhaps he also should have written a love poem to the wall; after all, it was the skill of its builders that brought Dubrovnik into the modern age virtually unscathed. Even after the walls were complete, city dwellers rebuilt or maintained it as it aged. It didn’t take long for word to spread of the mighty fortification surrounding Dubrovnik; the city soon gained a reputation as unconquerable throughout Europe and—more importantly—in the land-grabbing Ottoman Empire.

History, however, had other plans. Dubrovnik fell to the army of Napoleon in 1806 and later to Austria in 1814. The city remained part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until that kingdom’s dissolution with the 1919 Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I.

The region’s next major conflict, though devastating to the Old Town, tested the strength of the walls like never before. Tragically, almost 70% of the 824 red-roofed buildings within the fortifications were damaged by the Yugoslav People’s Army during the 1991 Siege of Dubrovnik. In retrospect, historians have said that the ancient walls held up better against modern weaponry than the more contemporary fortifications around the modern city. Were it not for the strength of those ancient ramparts, much more of the city would have been lost. Since those dark days, Dubrovnik’s Old Town has been lovingly restored.

Today, visitors can walk the entire perimeter of Dubrovnik’s walls—with magnificent views of the red-roofed, stone-cut city below and the sparkling waters of the Adriatic Sea beyond. The walls stretch for 6,360 feet, just over a mile, boast a maximum height of 82 feet, and feature several towers and bulwarks.

Gazing over the rooftops of Dubrovnik provides a remarkable and enlightening perspective. You’ll have bird’s-eye views of the Franciscan Monastery, the Placa main thoroughfare, the charming Old Harbor, the island of Lokrum just off the coast and of course the rocky shore lashed by Adriatic waves. The smaller details you’ll observe bring the city to life, too: children kicking a soccer ball around a schoolyard, laundry draped high above an alleyway or the clatter of kitchen plates through an open window.

It’s a stroll that gives immeasurable insight into this protective and unconquerable wall. Still today, life goes on within its sheltering embrace as it has for centuries.

Walk along Dubrovnik’s medieval ramparts during our Dalmatian Isles, Croatia & Slovenia trip!