Dubrovnik What to see in Dubrovnik

CULTURAL SIGHTS

Minčeta Fortress
With its magnificent crown, this tower has dominated the city for centuries and continues to dominate it today. It was a symbol of the city's freedom and a defiant challenge to all the cynics. Today, it is one of the most beautiful symbols of the city. With its lovely architecture, it is one of the most beautiful fortifications in the world. It was built by skilled masters. The original was smaller and square, built by Nicifor Ranjina in 1319. It was adapted and received its current monumental circular form from the famed Renaissance architect Michelozzo Michelozzi of Florence and one of the greatest Croatian Renaissance masters Juraj Dalmatinac, according to whose design the tower was completed in 1464. The top of this impressive structure provides a stunning view of the city and its surroundings.

Bokar Fortress
With its lovely stone wreaths, this fortress was also built according to the plans of Michelozzi. Its purpose was to defend the main entrance gates, drawbridge and moat at Pile. Today, it is a venue for performances of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

Fort of St. John
This was the main defence for the city port and one of the most important fortresses of the city. The first tower on this location was erected in the middle of the 14th century and today is a constituent part of this fortress. Later, over several decades, the tower was expanded, fortified and adapted. It received its current semicircular form and monumental appearance in the 16th century. Standing guard on the other side of the harbour is the tower of St. Luke, one of the oldest of the city's preserved towers, constructed in the 13th century. The city port was closed off at night by a chain which stretched from the Tower of St. Luke to the Mula Tower, which is today the Fort of St. John. At the end of the 15th century, the port jetty, called Kaše, was built by the renowned Dubrovnik engineer Paskoje Miličević. With the construction of the Kaše jetty, the port was doubly protected: from high waves and adverse sea conditions, while the defence system in the port was also reinforced to protect it from the eternal threat of attack from the sea.

Revelin
This great fortress in the shape of an irregular rectangle was constructed outside the city walls in the eastern part of the city in front of the Ploče Gates in the middle of the 16th century, when the Dubrovnik Republic was again under great threat from Venice. It was built quickly - all the remaining public works, in addition to a great deal of private works in the city, were halted in order to complete construction of the fortress as soon as possible and to reinforce the defence of the city port and the eastern part of the city, which was least protected. It was built according to the plans of the engineer Antun Ferramolinna, sent to aid the Republic by the Spanish Admiral Dori, a great friend of the Republic's. This monumental and impressive structure, surrounded by the sea on one side as well as three moats, was a dignified and unconquerable guard over Dubrovnik's port. One of its corners ran into the eastern city gate, the Ploče Gates, thus forming a unique defence complex that protected the eastern land entrance to the city. Revelin has great vaulted rooms and the largest terrace in Dubrovnik, and therefore has an exceptional ambience which makes it ideal as a stage for various performances of the Summer Festival.

Fort of St. Lawrence (Lovrijenac)
Yet another monumental and impressive fortress, the Fort of St. Lawrence lies outside the city walls at the western entrance to the city. It proudly sits on its sheer cliffs, 37 metres in height, and is steeped in legends on how it came to be and about the heroic acts of its guards and defenders. It dominates both the sea and land entrances to the city on the western side, and together with Bokar Fort encloses and protects Dubrovnik's oldest harbour, Kalarinja. The Fort of St. Lawrence caused many problems for those who attempted to jeopardize the freedom of the Republic, primarily the Venetians. Dubrovnik historians have recorded an interesting tale about how it came to be built. At the beginning of the 11th century, the Venetians allegedly intended to build their own great fortress on the same location in order to render Dubrovnik powerless against them. The people of Dubrovnik learned of the intention of the Venetians and they immediately decided to build a fortress on this virtually inaccessible cliff to protect the city from them. Historians claim that the fortress was built in three months. When the Venetians sailed in with the materials intended to build the fort, they saw that the people of Dubrovnik had outwitted them and beaten them to it. The fort has exceptionally thick walls on three sides, the north, west and southwest, the sides the enemy could approach from. These walls are between 4 and 12 metres thick. On the eastern part of the fortress facing Dubrovnik, the walls are only 60 centimetres thick. This was also a wise precautionary measure by the Dubrovnik Republic, for in the event that the fort commander, who was always from the ranks of the aristocracy, tried to act as a tyrant over the city, the Republic's artillery could easily penetrate this wall from one of the other fortresses, thus preventing any such attempts. The fort was armed with cannons, in particular the exceptionally large cannon "Gušter" (the lizard), a masterpiece by Croatian cannon maker Ivan Rabljanin. Throughout the centuries, this fort was adapted many times and following the fall of the Republic, it served a different purpose: it was a military base during the Austrian occupation, then it was converted into a hospitality facility. In 1933, the Fort of St. Lawrence was the venue for several sessions of the PEN club (meetings of the most eminent writers of the world, who then discovered Dubrovnik as a tourist attraction). For centuries, the fort was the greatest defender of the city's freedom, and engraved above its gates is a message for its descendents and for the world "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro" ("Freedom cannot be sold for all the treasures of the world"). Today, in this free city and free country, the fort shines again with its former greatness, and freely flies the flag of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival with its motto "Libertas" (Freedom). It has become one of the most dignified and beautiful stages in the world for the performance of one of the world's greatest plays, Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

The Church of the Holy Saviour
This church was constructed between the Franciscan monastery and the Pile Gates, right next to the city walls, in 1520. This small votive church, in accordance with a decision of the Dubrovnik Senate, was built as a sign of gratitude for the city's salvation from an earthquake which had struck the same year. In the 1667 earthquake, the church remained undamaged, and has been preserved to the present day with its original decor. It is the work of Croatian master builders from Korčula, the Andrijić brothers, who fitted the church in perfectly with its surroundings. With the construction of this lovely little church with its decorative facade, they left behind yet another pearl of Dubrovnik Renaissance architecture.

Convent of St. Claire
On the south side of the Pile Gates, next to the Great Onofrio Fountain, there is a small square which nicely frames the structure which was one of the best known Dubrovnik convents until the French occupation. The Convent of St. Claire was constructed at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. In one part of this convent, an orphanage for abandoned and illegitimate children was opened in 1434, and was one of the first such institutions in the world. The French administration under the rule of Napoleon closed down the convent and turned it into a munitions warehouse, and later into stables.

Franciscan Monastery
On the western side of the city, under the protection of the city walls and the unconquerable Minčeta Fort, is the Franciscan monastery of Male braće (Little Brothers). This monastery and the Dominican one are a cultural, artistic and historical legacy of the Dubrovnik Republic. The old Franciscan monastery was once situated outside the city walls in the suburb of Pile. However, due to the prospect of war, which threatened the Republic in the early 14th century, the Franciscans were forced to move into the city, demolish the old monastery and build a new one within the city walls. The construction of the monastery began in 1317 and lasted many years. The monastery complex encompasses a large space, from Place (Stradun) to the Minčeta Fort. Over the centuries, individual sections were affected and caved in, particularly during the great earthquake of 1667, when the beautiful church, one of the loveliest and richest of the time, was completely destroyed. All that was preserved of the original appearance of the church were the southern doors, vaulted with a sculpture of the Pieta of exceptional beauty and artistic value, framed with an archivolt in the Gothic style. This monumental portal even today testifies to the former beauty of the church, and is also one of the most significant works of the late Gothic period in Dubrovnik. It was constructed in 1499 by the Petrović brothers, who were Dubrovnik master builders. The monastery cloister is considered to be one of the loveliest structures in Dubrovnik. The ambience is one of exceptional harmony, with a luxurious decor of stone, framed with a colonnade of double hexaphores, each with a different and unique capital - the work of master builder Mihoje Brajkov from Bar, who completed these works in the middle of the 14th century. This cloister is also a magnificent realization of the late Romanesque style on our coast. In addition, the monastery has yet another (upper) Gothic cloister which survived the great earthquake, but which is for the purposes of the monastery and is inaccessible to the public. Still operating within the monastery is the pharmacy, founded at the same time as the monastery in 1317, making it one of the oldest in Europe (the third in terms of its establishment), and perhaps the oldest in Europe in terms of continuity of operations from its establishment to the present day. The monastery library is considered to be one of the most significant old libraries in Croatia and the world. It is home to a wealth of cultural and historical treasures of Dubrovnik, including over 1,200 old manuscripts of immeasurable cultural and historical value, 137 incunabula and 7 books of old church chorales. Overall, there is a total of 20,000 items. The monastery museum collection is housed in the great Renaissance hall, which is entered through the cloister. The museum includes a complete collection of the inventory of the old pharmacy, which is a unique collection. There are also valuable items made of gold and silver, paintings of the old masters, exhibits of rare library items and much more. The Franciscan church also has a specific and unforgettable atmosphere. Musical concerts are organized here as part of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, and there are numerous other concerts throughout the year.

Great Onofrio Fountain
Opposite the Church of Holy Salvation, next to the Pile Gates, is the magnificent fountain built by Onofrio della Cava. The fountain was greatly damaged in the earthquake and its beauty and functionality impaired. It was erected in celebration of the completion of the new waterworks in 1438, which thus supplied the city with water from the Dubrovnik River, 12 kilometres away. This fountain, with the beauty of its architecture and the gurgling of its clean water, was intended to commemorate this significant technical and important feat. As a favourite meeting place for the city's youth, it became part of the decor, along with the Small Onofrio Fountain, in the Renaissance play "Novela od Stanca" by Marin Držić, the greatest Dubrovnik playwright.

Dominican Monastery
The Dominican Monastery is situated on the eastern side of the city, encompassed by the tall city walls and protected by the powerful Fort Revelin. The monastery is one of the richest treasuries of cultural, artistic and historical heritage of old Dubrovnik. With the financial assistance of the Dubrovnik authorities and with the hard work of the residents of the entire area, who were ordered to work on the building, the construction of this great urban complex continued until 1301. In the beginning, the monastery was situated outside the city walls, in an important defensive position for the Republic. It was quickly included in the entire defence structure of the city, thus creating a whole together with the city. It was only partially damaged by the earthquake, and with its magnificent monumentalism, which is not so apparent from the external street side, it is one of the loveliest architectural features of old Dubrovnik. With its position, ambience and beauty, this unique monastery and urban complex, together with its individual structures, is harmoniously joined into one entity. It was constructed gradually over several centuries, from the 14th to the 16th century, with some reconstruction occurring later. Elements of varying styles are visible, including Romanesque and Baroque, while the majority of elements are an interweaving of the flowery Gothic and Renaissance. The works were conducted by many Croatian masters, from Dubrovnik and Zadar, in co-operation with Italians. The magnificently embellished courtyard, with its columns, cloisters, beautiful trefoils and stone well in the centre, was carved, built and decorated by the Croatian masters Utišenović, Grubačević and Radmanović and others according to the original plans of the master Masso di Bartolomeo of Florence in the middle of the 15th century. This courtyard is considered to be one of the most splendid realizations of the Dalmatian flowery Gothic architecture of the second half of the 15th century. The sacristy in the Gothic style was constructed by renowned Croatian master Paskoje Miličević of Dubrovnik at the end of the 15th century. He also constructed many other significant structures in Dubrovnik. As a show of gratitude, his name is engraved with public praise into one of the walls of the church, and he was buried in this church, as were many other deserving citizens of Dubrovnik. The south portal, richly embellished, is the work of Bonino of Milan. The monastery has a very rich collection of art, in particular, valuable paintings by the greatest Dubrovnik painters: Lovro Dobričević's Polyptych (15th century), Mihajl Hamzić's Triptych (16th century), and several paintings by Nikola Božidarević. Božidarević's Triptych is particularly interesting. An accurate model of Dubrovnik from the early 16th century is depicted in the arms of St. Blaise (Vlaho). The collection includes several works by Vlaho Bukovac, the distinguished Croatian painter born in Cavtat (20th century), in particular the altarpiece 'The Miracle of St. Dominic' and also works by the modern Dubrovnik painter Ivo Dulčić. Of the old masters, the most well known paintings are the crucifix by the great Venetian artist Paolo Veneziano, a work of great artistic value (14th century), Tiziano's altarpiece St. Magdalene (16th century), icons by masters from Crete and Venice (16th century), and the diptych by Flemish masters (16th century). The monastery has a valuable museum collection, including valuable golden artefacts by Croatian masters. Of particular note are the lovely chalice, the Gothic-Renaissance monstrance and the silver cross. The monastery library and archives house valuable manuscripts, including 220 incunabula. Several of the manuscripts are illuminated with exceptionally beautiful initial letters. During the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the monastery church is the venue for concerts of sacral chamber music, and offers the visitors an unforgettable experience in the exceptional acoustics and special ambience of this beautiful church.

Arsenal
The Arsenal was situated at the location of today's Gradska Kavana. It was composed of 4 vaulted sections for the 4 galleys that protected the town. The state defence galleys were built, guarded and repaired here. It was established very early on, perhaps as early as the 8th century. During its long existence, it was adapted many times, until it finally received its current appearance as the favourite café of the people of Dubrovnik.

Stradun

The famed Dubrovnik Stradun, or to give it its official name Place, is the favourite walking area for all the people of Dubrovnik, especially the young, and for tourists from all over the globe. It would be a shame to pass up a walk along Stradun, as this would mean missing an unforgettable experience in the city. It was constructed after the great earthquake of 1667 in the accelerated program to reconstruct the city. It was given a placid and wide appearance, both dignified and beautiful in the simplicity of its stone architecture. Prior to the earthquake, Stradun was lined with luxurious palaces. After the earthquake, the ruined city had to think first about continuing the life and defence of the city, and all the reconstruction projects were focused primarily on these goals. All of the houses built along Stradun were built according to a project approved by the Republic Senate. They are all virtually of identical height and bear almost identical facades and similar layouts, as each house had to have several shops on the ground floor. Here the trading spirit of the Republic shines through.

Orlando's Column

Between the Sponza Palace and the Church of St. Blaise (Vlaho) is a stone column with the figure of a medieval warrior in arms bearing a sword and shield, carved into the column. It was carved by the Croatian master Antun Dubrovčanin in 1418. The statue is a symbol of the freedom of Dubrovnik and the flag of the Republic always flies upon this column during ceremonies. Government proclamations and announcements were read to the people from the column's pedestal. The story of how this column came to be is tied to the tale of the hero Orlando (Rolando) who - according to legend - helped to liberate Dubrovnik from the dangerous sieges of Arab pirates in the 8th century. The citizens of Dubrovnik erected this column in his honour. Today, a ceremony before Orlando and the raising of the "Libertas" flag on the column mark the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival every year.

The Sponza Palace
All the trading voyages of the Dubrovnik Republic entered and flowed through this palace, one of the most beautiful in the city. The trading spirit of Dubrovnik knew how to build itself such fitting buildings, thereby confirming its wealth and culture by constructing such a luxurious palace with its impressive facade. It was constructed in a combination of Gothic and Renaissance styles, according to the design of the talented head engineer of the Dubrovnik Republic, Paskoje Miličević. Its exuberant beauty confirms its originality and its distinctive construction, what could be called the Dubrovnik style - the successful realization of the expressive possibilities of various styles in the exceptionally harmonious architecture of this palace, which resembles lace cast in stone. Its construction began in 1516. The Andrijić brothers, from the well known Korčula family of builders and sculptors did all the carving and stonework. The palace was originally intended to be a customs house where traded goods brought from all corners of the world by traders were to be taxed. The palace courtyard, entirely in arcades, was the liveliest trading centre and meeting place for the business people of the Republic. One of the wings was home to the mint, founded in the 14th century, where coins were minted for the Republic and which operated out of this palace right up until the fall of the Republic. Near the end of the 16th century, the Sponza Palace became the cultural centre of the Republic. Here is where the most educated citizens of Dubrovnik met in their association "Academy of the Learned", which had its seat in this palace, to discuss literature, art and all the scientific achievements of the time. The first school in Dubrovnik was also organized at the Sponza Palace. Today, the Sponza Palace, peaceful and dignified, guards the most precious historical documentation of Dubrovnik: the Dubrovnik Archive, which contains materials from the distant past of Dubrovnik and the surrounding areas, from centuries past to the present day. The palace itself became, in its own way, one of the precious documents of that archive. Undamaged in the earthquake, it steadfastly waited to prove to us all what lavish palaces Dubrovnik had, powerful and wealthy, in the time before its catastrophes. The square before Sponza Palace is the site of the opening ceremonies of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. From the terrace above the veranda before the Sponza Palace, actors dressed in the costumes of the Rector and Dubrovnik aristocrats evoke the past of the cultural events and freedom of the Dubrovnik Republic.

City Bell Tower
Next to the main guard building, the city bell tower was constructed in 1444. It is 31 metres in height. Luka Mihočin, the son of an admiral, created the metal plate for the clock, and under it the hands of the moon dial and the two wooden figures which tell the time. The great master, Ivan Rabljanin, maker of Dubrovnik cannons, cast the new bell in 1506. The wooden figures were also replaced with bronze ones, the famed Dubrovnik "greens", the symbols of passing time. The stability of the bell tower was affected by the great earthquake, and over time it began to lean and was in danger of collapsing. In 1929, it was rebuilt according to the original design.

Luza, the old bell tower
In between the city bell tower and the Sponza Palace is Luza, the old bell tower, built in 1463 and restored in 1952. Its bell was rung to announce the session of the council and as an alarm to warn of danger (fire, etc.) Under Luza, there are the inner gates to the city, which lead from Place (Stradun) to the Ploče Gates and the city port.

Main Guard Building
Next to the City Council Palace, the Gothic building of the Main Guard, the home of the admiral, was constructed in 1490. Later adaptations to the entrance portal and on the mezzanine were carried out by Marino Gropelli in the 18th century.

Small Onofrio Fountain
Built before the building of the Main Guard in commemoration of the completed construction of the city waterline, this fountain is a true gem and masterpiece of sculptural achievement in Dubrovnik. It was created by Onofrio della Cava in 1438 in co-operation with the Italian sculptor Pietro di Martino.

City Council Palace
In between the Rector's Palace and the city bell tower, is the City Council Palace, built in the 14th century. The palace was completely destroyed in a fire in 1816. Its facade was similar to the appearance of today's Sponza Palace. Later, in the same location, the City Hall building was erected in 1882, and this today is the administrative centre of Dubrovnik. The Dubrovnik Theatre and the Gradska Kavana (the city café) are also a part of this building. It was possible to enter the Great Council Palace from the Rector's Palace through an internal doorway. Above this doorway is an inscription, which has been preserved undamaged to the present day, and this inscription is well known for its great wisdom and patriotism: "Obliti privatorum publica curate" ("Forget private affairs, deal with state affairs").

Dubrovnik Archive (Sponza Palace)
The archive is situated in the Sponza Palace. Before and during the time of the Dubrovnik Republic, it was housed in the Rector's Palace. In terms of the wealth of the materials and the historical documents preserved within the archive, it is considered to be one of the most significant archives in the world. Despite all the catastrophes that destroyed this city and its administrative palaces, the Republic, and later the city of Dubrovnik, have succeeded in preserving its millennium-long written history, contained in the original documents kept in the Dubrovnik Archive. The archive has 7,000 reams of manuscripts and about 100,000 individual manuscripts covering the period from the 12th century to the fall of the Republic. By the 13th century, the Republic had already introduced the systematic recording and keeping of all public and private legal documents, composed before the state authorities and registered in the official books. All of the written documents which confirmed the rights of the Republic and regulated its relations with other cities, countries and rulers were also kept. After 1278, all of the documents of the officials of the Republic, copies of all testaments, records of all three Republic councils, a wealth of official correspondence, in addition to records on ships, their voyages, crew and passenger lists and more were kept. The entire history of the political, diplomatic, economic, shipping, trading and all other areas of life of the Republic are preserved in the documents of the archive. A lot of material on other Balkan countries and further abroad is also kept. The archive also holds numerous documents from the more recent history of the city and the wider Dubrovnik region from the 19th and 20th centuries to the present day.

The Rector's Palace
All of the history of old Dubrovnik passed through this lovely, though not luxurious palace. Moderation and simplicity, ever present in the life of old Dubrovnik, was affirmed in this building of great significance to the Republic. This simple, harmonious Gothic-Renaissance palace appears to be too modest for the once wealthy Dubrovnik Republic. This, however, is not surprising, as this measure of harmony without excessive lavishness was consistently present in all spheres of life in old Dubrovnik. Like the Republic itself, this building experienced a stormy history. It was destroyed in gunpowder explosions several times and shaken by earthquakes. However, we can still stand today before its lovely facade and admire the harmony of its ambience and stone, and all the artists who gave it, through its simplicity, this luxurious glow of peaceful beauty. It leaves quite an impression, and has kept alive the spirit of the past so strongly that the visitor is instantly and powerfully enveloped in the atmosphere of centuries gone past, so that he is almost surprised to not come across the Rector accompanied by the members of the Small Council. The Dubrovnik Rector lived in the palace for the duration of his one month mandate (without his family). He was permitted to leave the palace only on official business. Otherwise, leaving the palace was forbidden. In addition to his many state tasks, a special ceremony was held every evening in which he accepted the keys to the city gates, which he was responsible for overnight, so that no one could enter the town at night. In the morning, a similar ceremony was held in which he returned the keys. And that was the way it was for centuries, until the fall of the Republic. The Rector's Palace was also the seat of the Small Council. There were halls for official receptions and audiences. It was also the seat of the Republic administration. There was an armoury, gunpowder warehouse, sentry post and a dungeon. According to the Dubrovnik chronicles, there had earlier been a smaller citadel on this spot, but it was completely destroyed in a gunpowder explosion in 1435. The builder Onofrio di Giordana della Cava from Naples, who was then building the Dubrovnik waterline, was hired by the Dubrovnik authorities to construct a new Rector's Palace where the ruins of the old one stood. He built the new palace in the middle of the 15th century. However, soon afterwards, another gunpowder explosion in 1463 again seriously damaged the palace, especially its western facade. The palace was repaired with an addition in the Renaissance style under the supervision of the Florence builder Salvio de Michele, in co-operation with a number of local builders. After the palace was again damaged in the 1667 earthquake, the atrium was partially reconstructed with Baroque additions. In this way, as the result of unavoidable events, the palace is a symbiosis of three styles: the basic Gothic palace with later reconstructions in the Renaissance and Baroque styles, all together forming one harmonious and beautiful entity. The western entrance wall of the palace, with its arcade and arches, beautifully carved capitals, exceptionally decorative portal and other details appears lavish. The palace atrium is a simple harmonious space, with rows of columns embellished with Corinthian capitals, galleries, a beautiful Baroque staircase and exceptional acoustics. Today, it is one of the most impressive venues for chamber concerts as part of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. The atrium is ornamented with a small fountain from the 15th century and the bust of one of the most deserved sons of Dubrovnik, the sailor Miho Pracat. This humble monument, erected following a decision of the Republic in 1638, is the work of the Italian sculptor Piero Paolo Giacometti. It is a great recognition, and the only one of its kind granted by the Republic to an ordinary citizen throughout its entire history. After the fall of the Dubrovnik Republic, the palace was looted by occupying forces, and valuable items of Dubrovnik's cultural heritage, carefully collected over the centuries, were taken away. The palace was also damaged by earthquakes and fires. Today the Rector's Palace is home to the cultural-historical wing of the Dubrovnik Museum. The exhibition halls have been set up to provide a local atmosphere, with items on display from the previous centuries of the Dubrovnik Republic. In addition to period furniture, there are many portraits of Dubrovnik aristocrats and other important people in Dubrovnik, and paintings by the great masters (Carraci, Tintoretto, Giogione, Bordone, Hamzić and others). A collection of coins from old Dubrovnik from the 14th to 19th century is also on display, together with the original keys to the city gates, seals, crests, a copy of the Dubrovnik Code and records of the Republic, items from the old pharmacy "Domus Christi" which date back to the 15th century, and much more.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary
The history of the old city is full of legends. According to one of these legends, based on chronicles from Dubrovnik and England, the English King Richard the Lion Heart survived a shipwreck during a terrible storm near the island of Lokrum off the coast of Dubrovnik upon his return from the Third Crusade in 1192. After his life was saved, he vowed that he would donate a significant amount of gold coins for the construction of a large votive church as a sign of gratitude. With this money, the construction of the old Cathedral began, which was located on the same place as the present day Cathedral. The old Cathedral was levelled to the ground in 1667 after an earthquake destroyed many of Dubrovnik's old buildings. It is well known that this Cathedral, a masterpiece of stone, with five large entrances and dome, was considered to be one of the most beautiful and richest churches in Europe at the time. The old Romanesque Cathedral, in the shape of a basilica, took over a century to build (from the 12th to the 14th century). At the time of the catastrophic earthquake, Dubrovnik had the Vatican as its guardian, and later Stjepan Gradić was appointed Rector of the Vatican library. He was one of its most educated sons, a member of the most respected scientific circles in the Vatican, Rome and Padova - a great historian, philosopher and poet, as well as a great scientist in the areas of astronomy, physics, navigation and other fields. He was also considered to be a great and talented diplomat with many influential connections throughout the world. Stjepan Gradić sought assistance throughout Europe for his damaged home town. Along with many other things that he did for Dubrovnik, it was with his help that the most reputable architect from Italy was sent by the Pope to help in reconstruction projects for the destroyed city. Stjepan Gradić wanted the Cathedral to be based on modern church architecture, meaning in the Baroque style. For this project, they hired the well known Italian architect from Urbino, Andrea Buffalini. The Italian architect Paolo Andreotti began the construction of the Church in 1673 based on these plans. It took several decades to construct with the help of many skilled workers. The final additions were completed by the local craftsman Ilija Katičić in 1713. This monumental Church in Dubrovnik, immediately next to the Rector's Palace and the Bishop's Palace, is considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Dalmatia. Its blue-green dome dominates the old city roofs. Along with the city walls, it is the first visual symbol of Dubrovnik from all the entrances into the town. Next to the Cathedral, on the western side, is a free standing christening baptistery from the 14th century made of red and white stone left over from portions of the old Cathedral that survived the earthquake but not the destructive powers of the ever mighty Austrian General, the representative of occupation in the middle of the 19th century. He ordered that this beautiful old monument be destroyed in order to expand the view from his window. The Cathedral is ornamented with Baroque altars and numerous highly valuable paintings mainly by Italian artists. There are also several paintings by Flemish and local artists. Works of art considered to be of great artistic value include: the large polyptych of the Assumption of Mary (16th century) over the main altar, a piece by the great Venetian painter Tiziano and his workshop; the beautiful Madonna della Seggiola (16th century), signed by Raffaello and his school; "Escape to Egypt" by the Italian painter Savoldi; the painting of St. Catherine by the Venetian artist Palmo the Elder; and the well known painting of the Head of Christ by the Italian artist Pordenone. Local art is represented by Benko Stay who painted the Altar of the Annunciation (17th century), and Petar Mattei-Matejević, who was the author of the painting St. Bernardo before the Mother of God (17th-18th century). Before the earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik Cathedral had one of the wealthiest collections in Europe. In the earthquake, many of the relics and valuable objects from the collection were lost forever. During the time of the Republic, it was decided that everything that was saved should be placed in the Cathedral vault, under special care and security. After its establishment, the vault was locked with three keys: one was held by the Bishop, one by the Rector of the Cathedral, and one was in the possession of the Republic's Secretary. The vault could only be opened with all three keys at the same time. Today, the third key is safeguarded at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Dubrovnik. The vault contains relics and church artefacts of extraordinary artistic value, mainly the work of local craftsmen. Dubrovnik had the reputation of being one of the leading European cities in the exceptional development of work in gold. There were many goldsmiths who created decorations, gold pieces and jewellery with meticulous and refined technical designs. The goldsmiths developed their skills to the peak of artistic creation. All the European courts attempted to obtain gold decorative objects and jewellery from the reputable Dubrovnik gold shops. In the Cathedral collection today, the most valuable relics are of those of the patron saint of the city, the hands and head of Saint Blaise (Vlaho). These relics are decorated with precious stones and enamel and exceptional filigree details, crafted of the highest quality silver and gold in the Byzantine style, the work of an artist from Dubrovnik in the 11th and 12th century. The beautiful silver cross was created by the goldsmith Jeronim Matova from Dubrovnik in the 16th century. There are also many other objects and relics of other saints. A strong earthquake in 1979 once again damaged the Cathedral. The walls, dome and facade were cracked. The repairs to the Cathedral lasted for several years and demanded the strengthening of the foundations. While digging, archaeologists discovered a valuable and sensational find only several metres under the cathedral. They discovered the foundation and walls of another unknown church, a triple nave basilica with three apses. Most surprising is the size of the original church. It measured 30 metres in length and 15 metres in width. Archaeologists have dated this basilica to the 7th-8th century, and perhaps even earlier. On these old walls, they discovered lovely old frescos from the 9th century. Conservation of these valuable findings was completed and then access was given to the public. These new archaeological findings have an important significance in determining the time of Dubrovnik's establishment, as it is believed that a larger town had to exist for such a basilica to be built in the 7th century. A small fishing community would not have the means or need to build such a church. All these facts together have moved the time of the establishment of Dubrovnik back a few centuries. It is up to the experts to further investigate and confirm this information.

The Jesuit Church of St. Ignacio
Across Bunić Square, located on the western side of the Cathedral, we see Gundulić Square and its wide Baroque staircase leading up to Bošković Square, where one of the most beautiful Baroque constructions in Dubrovnik was built, the Jesuit Church. Built at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, the Church was based on a project by Italian architect Andrea Pozza, and has a beautiful Baroque portal and an impressive facade dominating the square. Significant pieces of art that decorate this Church were created by Gaetano Garcia, an Italian Baroque painter originally from Spain. He decorated the apses of the Church with scenes portraying the life of St. Ignacio Loyole, the founder of the Jesuit order. Next to this Church is a large building constructed for the renowned Dubrovnik University, Collegium Ragusnium, built according to the design of Ranjina and Canalin. The wisest people in the Republic attended this University. The Roman builder Padalacqua designed the Baroque staircase, which perfectly complements the Church.

City Walls
The most recognizable landmark that define the physiognomy of the historical city of Dubrovnik and give the city its characteristic and world known reputation are the untouched city walls. The walls surround the city and have a total length of 1,940 metres. This complex fortress, one of the most beautiful and solid fortress systems in the Mediterranean, is composed of a range of forts, bastions, casemates, towers and freestanding fortresses. The walls were constructed during difficult times when the city and Republic were in constant danger. The walls have survived to the present day not only because of the knowledge of the skilled construction workers and the constant care provided by the city's inhabitants who maintained and rebuilt the structures as necessary, but because of the brilliant diplomacy of Dubrovnik, which managed on many occasions to avoid dangerous measures taken by enemies against the Republic. Dubrovnik Old Town is completely surrounded by walls and fortresses, including the Old City Port. The history of the fortifications of Dubrovnik goes back to the early Middle Ages. It is certain that the early town on Laus Island was also surrounded by defensive walls. The fact that Dubrovnik managed to survive a fifteen-month siege by the Saracens in the 9th century proves how well the city was fortified. The city first spread towards the uninhabited eastern part of the island. That is why the current name for the south-east part of the city, next to the Fort of St. John, Pustijerna, comes from the Latin phrase "post terra", which means outside the town. In the 9th and 10th century, the defensive wall enclosed the eastern portion of the city. In the 11th century, when the narrow sea strait where Placa is located today dried up, the city was connected to the village that already existed on the coast; and soon afterwards, a single defensive wall was constructed around the area, which today is equal to the size of the core of the Old Town. In the 13th century, the entire city was surrounded by defensive walls except the Dominican monastery, which entered into the city defensive walls in the 14th century. On average, the walls were 1.5 metres thick, constructed of stone and limestone. In order to strengthen the walls' surfaces and improve the defences, 15 square towers were constructed in the 14th century. Large works were completed at the end of the 14th century after the city was finally liberated from Venetian rule. The largest stimulus for continued development and emergency repairs and works on Dubrovnik's fortresses came with the unexpected danger of attack by Turkish military forces after they took Constantinople in 1453. The city was also in danger of attack from the Venetians. Due to the great efforts of the citizens and rulers of Dubrovnik, as well as the talents of the many skilled workers who were brought in during the emergency, most of the land-facing parts of the fortress were strengthened. All this, along with the construction of fortresses and the semi-circle bastion on the bulwark, was completed in less than three years. The system was expanded and modernized during the 16th century and later. The extent of the city walls today dates back to the 16th century, while the definitive appearance of this system dates back to what we call the Golden Age of Dubrovnik, from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Dubrovnik in 1667. The main walls on the land side are between 4 and 6 metres thick, while the walls on the sea side range from 1.5 metres to 3 metres in thickness. At certain locations, the walls reach up to 25 metres in height. On the land side, the wall is protected with an additional range of slanted supporting walls, to provide defence from cannons. The irregular parallelogram which surrounds Dubrovnik has four strong fortresses at its most significant points. To the north is the strong circular tower Fort Minčeta, to the east side of the city port is the Revelin Fortress, and the large and complex Fort of St. John is located on the south-east side of the city. The western entrance to the city is protected by the strong and elegantly shaped Bokar Fort. The western side of the city was protected from land and sea attacks by the strong, freestanding Fort of St. Lawrence (Lovrijenac). Along with these outstanding fortifications, the city walls were also protected by two additional round towers, 12 square towers, 5 bastions and 2 cornerstone forts, while the expanded bulwarks are flanked with one large and 9 small semi-circular bastions. Along the land side of the city fortifications, a deep moat was added for extra protection. The entire fortification system also consisted of numerous cannons. The cannons were manufactured in local workshops, which Dubrovnik was recognized for in this part of the world. The most famous cannon manufacturer in the 16th century was Ivan Rabljanin of Dubrovnik. In periods when the city was on a war footing, the city walls were protected by over 120 cannons. Communication with the outside world was maintained through two well-protected city gates, one placed on the western side of the city and the other placed on the eastern side. On the western side was the entrance to the city, the Pile Gates, which were complex and well fortified, while the eastern entrance, the Ploče Gates, was protected by the freestanding Revelin fortress. Both entrances to the city were constructed so that communications with the city could not be carried out directly. A messenger had to enter through multiple doors and walk down the winding passageway, which is evidence of the security measures taken as a last defence against the possibility of a surprise breach or entrance by unexpected visitors. In the city port area, one of the most significant areas of the maritime trade city, there were two entrances: the Ponte Gate (port) and the Fish Market Gate. The city port was protected from strong waves and surprise invasion by the Kaše jetty. The entire layout of Dubrovnik's streets, as well as a range of extensions, was intended for fast and effective communication with the forts of the city walls. Today, a walk along the city walls is a true tourist attraction. From this viewpoint, it is easy to understand the old city of Dubrovnik, as a different angle of the city opens from each new viewing point, especially when you look down upon the streets and squares, which uncovers an entire range of picturesque details. Here one can experience the atmosphere of the city and its layout in size and width, which is impossible to notice while walking along the city streets. Along with unforgettable images of the city, such a walk will reveal a magnificent view of the open sea before Dubrovnik and provides a view of the city's surroundings.

Source: http://www.visitdubrovnik.hr/

WHERE TO MOOR IN DUBROVNIK