Dubrovnik

Croatia's most beautiful and famous tourist postcard in the world is the city of Dubrovnik. This Mediterranean pearl that has developed on the rocks by the sea and is surrounded by its impressing walls has been writing its rich history since the 7th century. In 1979, UNESCO inscribed the old city of Dubrovnik on the World Heritage List, where it has remained ever since. Dubrovnik has been a developed urban center since the Middle Ages, as evidenced by numerous elegant palaces, fountains, sacral buildings and well-fortified walls with the Minčeta Fortress, Bokar Fortress, Fort of St. John, Revelin and Fort of St. Lawrence (Lovrijenac). The center of mediaeval Dubrovnik is entered through two main gates: the Gate of Pile and the Gate of Ploče. The latter one is a gathering place for street artists, portrait painters and street performers that are lined all the way to the Lazzarettos of Dubrovnik, a space that once served as a quarantine station. Through the city gates to the sea lies the old port and the Porporela pier, where smaller boats anchor and excursion boats depart for the green island of Lokrum, which is worth visiting for its Benedictine monastery and botanical garden. Luža Square represents the center of public life in Dubrovnik along with the main street Placa or Stradun. The main town square with famous Orlando’s Column is guarded by the baroque Church of St. Blaise, the patron saint of the city.  Nearby is the Gothic-Renaissance Rector's Palace with a baroque atrium, where various classical music concerts are held throughout the year. Another highlight is the irresistible Sponza Palace, which was once the bank of the city, but also the academy of Dubrovnik during the Renaissance. The Franciscan monastery with its beautiful cloister and the oldest pharmacy in southern Europe is another must-see attraction in Dubrovnik. When the sun slowly sets down, it is the right time to climb the city walls.

Dubrovnik is known for its rich cultural life, especially in the summer months when the Dubrovnik Summer Festival takes place. During that time the entire city center with its small squares, alleys and courtyards transforms into a large stage under the open sky. In addition to numerous other events, the traditional festival provides entertainment with a selection of dramas, operas and concerts for everyone’s taste. Widely popular film productions place Dubrovnik on the map of unique and most desirable filming destinations. Namely, the city of Dubrovnik served as the perfect backdrop in the production of the most popular series of all time, i.e. "Game of Thrones", where it acted as "King's Landing", the capital of the seven kingdoms. “Star Wars” and “Robin Hood” and many other popular films have also been shot here, making Dubrovnik a tourist destination that now also offers movie tours during which film sets of famous series and films can be seen.

To experience Dubrovnik's gastronomic highlights, we recommend al fresco dining on beautiful terraces, romantic squares and streets, accompanied by gentle music of street musicians while tasting excellent Croatian wines. From home-made dishes, prosciutto, marinated cheeses, octopus salad, green menestra (cabbage and smoked meat stew) to fried sand smelt and grilled sardines. To experience the best panoramic view of magnificent Dubrovnik, go up to mountain Srđ that rises above the city. If you are interested in cruising the waters of Dubrovnik, then head to Port of Gruž from where boats and ferries to the surrounding islands depart. Rijeka Dubrovačka, with the settlements Komolac and Mokošica, is a ria that is almost connected with the city of Dubrovnik. The shortest river in the world, the Ombla River, which supplies Dubrovnik with drinking water, originates in Komolac. Walking through Mokošica, visitors can enjoy numerous 16th-century summer houses, the most famous of which is the Gučetić-Đurđević manor. We could endlessly go on with highlighting all the beauties of this ancient city, but its colors, sounds, life and scents cannot be properly put into words, they must be experienced, touched, heard and felt...