Dubrovnik

The complex of the Dubrovnik city walls which consists of forts, bastions, towers and fortresses are an attraction for every visitor. The walls, with its length of 1940 meters, cover the entireTown in the form of an irregular polygon. Today many visitors admire the beauty and the cultural riches of the walls. However, the walls were originally built for the purpose of defending the Town of Dubrovnik from a number of attacks in the past, thus assuring a peaceful life and development. Enjoy the relaxed and romantic walks with an impressive view and the many attractions that are hidden within the city walls. Make sure to visit the fortresses that adorn the city walls, such as: Minčeta, Bokar, St. John (Sv.Ivan), Lovrijenac and Revelin.

Placa Street (Stradun) is the most famous promenade in Dubrovnik and its surrounding area, besides being the widest and the most beautiful city street. You will have atruly unique experience of the city by walking down Stradun where you can feel the spirit of the city. It is the main place for important events in Dubrovnik, and the entire street is filled withcafes, restaurants and numerous shops. On the very Street of Stradun, in the immediate vicinity, some famous city sights are located.

The mystical island of Lokrum is situated in front of the Town of Dubrovnik. It represents a real oasis of peace with its rich vegetation and sunny coves. There is a fortress at the top of the island that was converted into a lookout point overlooking the island and the Town of Dubrovnik, providing a breathtaking view. The island of Lokrum is a protected nature park that features a lake called the "Dead Sea". Take a tour of this romantic little island and enjoy its beauty.

During your stay in Dubrovnik, make sure to visit the Elaphite Islands. Of the 13 Elaphite islands, only three are inhabited, which are the following: Koločep, Lopud and Šipan, and they will delight you with their sights and beauty. The island of Lopud ranked on the world tourist art map as a place that must be visited by all contemporary art lovers because of the Art Pavilion ‘Your Black Horizon’whichbrings together art and architecture.

A witness to the rich history of Dubrovnik is certainly the beautiful Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The treasury of this cathedral is an invaluable treasure which contains a number of objects from the period of the 11th to the 18th century. There is a legend about the foundation of the Cathedral about an English king who vowed to donate ducats for the construction of a large church in the first safe city he enteredafter escaping a storm near Lokrum and barely surviving, while returning from the Third Crusade.

The historical archive located at the Sponza Palace is one of the richest ones in Europe and it holds the most precious historical documentation of the Town of Dubrovnik. This beautiful palace was built in the Gothic-Renaissance style that is specific to Dubrovnik’s architecture, at a time when Dubrovnik was the center of trade. Throughout its history, the Sponza Palace has survived a major earthquake in which it was, unfortunately, destroyed for the most part. Nevertheless, one can still recognize its construction from the distant past, as it pertains to the typical architecture of Dubrovnik.

Along with the Cathedral, you should also visit the most famous town church, the Church of St. Blaise, dedicated to the patron of Dubrovnik, a church that exalts with anornate Venetian Baroque style. In the distant past, the church had survived a major earthquake, but it was later completely destroyed in a fire that was probably caused by candles. An intact silver statue of St. Blaisewas saved from the great firewith a model that he holds in his hand showing the former architecture of the Town, whichmakes it one of the most important sculptures in Dubrovnik. St. Blaisehas beenworshiped in this region since the 10th century when the people of Dubrovnik were saved from the Venetians that anchored their boats in the port of Gruž and in front of the Island of Lokrum. The feast day of St. Blaisehas alsobeen declared the Day of the Town of Dubrovnik, which is celebrated on February 3.

Mount Srđ, situated above the Town of Dubrovnik on its northern side,serves as a shelter from the wind and also from many conquerors who have tried to conquer the Town throughout its history. The fortress Imperial is situated on the top of the hill, where you can visit the museum which presents many types of weapons and shells that were used in the attacks on the Town during the Croatian War for Independence. You can also see the Dubrovnik wartime documents and video presentations. Mount Srđ offers a spectacular view of the Town and the surrounding area, making it a favorite destination for photography. You can enjoy the splendid view from the hill by reaching it from the Town by a cable car that takes you there in only a few minutes.

In the past, the Great Onofrio’s Fountain was an impressive building that was destroyed in the earthquake and has never been fully rebuilt. Nevertheless, even today it looks very unusual and rich, attracting the attention of many visitors who seek it for refreshment.

The Town of Dubrovnik abounds in cultural events that are constantly enriched so that guests visiting Dubrovnik could remember it as a Town with a rich cultural and artistic heritage; it also strives to satisfy all those who want to enrich their vacation and make it unforgettable. Throughout the year, the Town of Dubrovnik organizes a number of festivals, prestigious art exhibitions, concerts and entertainment mega-projects in the open, traditional feasts such as the Festival of St. Blaise, the Town’s patron saint, carnivals dating back to the time of the ancient town of Njarnjas, as well as opera gala evenings.