Visit Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik city information
One of the oldest cities in the world is Dubrovnik. It is a legendary place with its wide squares, historical sites, long narrow streets, cafes and exclusive restaurants. Thanks to its historical sites, you can feel the past. Dubrovnik is an unavoidable place. A historical place can only be preserved so well and brought to this day. Parts of the series “Game of Thrones” were filmed in this town, being there, you can feel as if you were on the set.
History
The first mention of Dubrovnik dates back to 850. Around 992, it was burned. At the end of the 10th century the Archbishopric of Dubrovnik was founded. After that it became independent from Split. From 1205 to 1358 it was part of the Dubrovnik Republic. Trade in Dubrovnik developed very early. In the 13th century the power of Dubrovnik expanded beyond the city limits. Lasto was voluntarily annexed to Dubrovnik, and from 1333 the Peljesac peninsula with Ston became part of the Dubrovnik Republic. Ston was of great strategic importance to Dubrovnik. Because of its location, it was able to control the navigation at the mouth of the Neretva River and in the Mljet canal.
Dubrovnik secured the territory from Ston to Zaton at the beginning of the fourteenth century, when it bought Primorje (medieval Old Croatian county) from Bosnia. At that time, the borders of the republic were approved and from the end of the fifteenth century all of Dubrovnik’s neighbors recognized it. Dubrovnik signed many international treaties with Italian cities and other neighbors (Serbia and Bosnia). Under the Peace of Zadar in 1358, the Republic of Venice gave up all its possessions on the eastern coast in favor of the Kingdom of Croatia-Hungary. Dubrovnik accepted the symbolic supremacy of King Louis I in successful diplomatic negotiations. The prince is chosen by the people of Dubrovnik themselves and after the death of Louis I in 1382, the city becomes an independent and respected republic.
Architecture
This building was largely destroyed in the 1667 earthquake. The Senate in Dubrovnik approached the Italian architect Andrea Bufalini Urbino, who sent a model of a new Baroque church with a nave, two aisles and a dome. Several other Italian architects, including Francesco Cortese (working from 1669 until his death in 1670), Paolo Andreotti of Genoa (working 1671-1674), Pier Antonio Bazzi of Genoa (working 1677-78), and Friar Tommaso Napoli of Palermo (working 1689-1700), working with local and imported masons, completed the cathedral over the next three decades. Napoli made several significant changes to the original plans, including the use of a cross vault and the opening of large thermal windows on the upper level. This gives the entire interior a lightness and brightness. The style of the cathedral follows the Roman Baroque aesthetic espoused by Bernini, Carlo Fontana and their seventeenth-century contemporaries. Construction began in 1673, and was completed in 1713 by the Dubrovnik architect Ilija Katicic. The building was damaged by the 1979 earthquake in Montenegro, which required several years of repairs. The cathedral was damaged at least once during the siege of Dubrovnik in 1991. The damage has since been repaired.
Historical Monuments in Dubrovnik
City Walls
The city walls are part of the fortifications enclosing the old part of the city. They were built from the 13th to the 17th century for defense. Their length is 1940 m and height is 25 m. On four sides they are protected by towers. Beyond the city walls, 2,000 inhabitants lived within the Dubrovnik Republic period, and the largest number of inhabitants lived here in the 15th century, about 6,000. In the 14th century, 15 towers were built. To protect against the Venetian Republic, all openings in the walls were closed. The city walls took their present form in the 15th and 16th centuries. When Constantinople was conquered in 1453, the Minceta Tower was built. Because of the Turkish-Venetian wars, the fortresses of Revelin, St. John and the Margaret Tower were built.
Fort Minceta
Minceta is the northernmost and most monumental fortress of the city walls. It was named after the noble family of Dubrovnik Menceti. It is a large circular tower which, with its height and volume, dominates the northwestern elevated part of the city and the walls. Minceti offers a breathtaking view of the city.
Bokar Tower
Bokar is one of the four most important towers of the city walls of Dubrovnik. It is located in the western part of the walls, in the immediate vicinity of the fortress of Lovrijenac. The fortress was built according to the project of the Renaissance architect Michelozzo. Construction began in 1461. The building is interesting for its interior spaces and terraces. It is shaped like a horseshoe, and its location on the seashore made it suitable for artillery training.
St. John’s Fortress
St. John’s is a fortress located on the south side, whose main function was to defend the city harbor. The fortress was built in 1346. Nearby was the Gundulić fortress, designed by Dubrovnik architect Paska Milicevic. The two fortresses were joined by towers in 1522, and since 1557 they form the unity that we know today. Today the fortress holds an important part of the cultural heritage of the Dubrovnik Republic period, as well as the collections of an underwater aquarium. The terraces serve as a summer stage for the Dubrovnik Summer Games.
Fort Revelin
The fortress of Revelin is located in the northeastern part of the city, separated from the city walls by a deep moat and connected by a bridge. It was supposed to serve as a defense against the Turks. The first mention of the fortress dates back to 1449, and construction began in 1463. The modern appearance of the fortress was designed by the architect Antonio Ferramolino. After the earthquake in 1667, it became the administrative center of the Dubrovnik Republic, and the state treasury was moved here. Today the terraces are used for performances of the Dubrovnik Summer Games, and various concerts are organized inside the fortress.
Ploče Gate
The Ploče Gates is the eastern entrance to the old city of Dubrovnik. It is located in the part of Ploce for which it was named. It had external and internal gates, a stone bridge over the moat and an elevated wooden bridge. The outer gate was built in 1450, and the bridge with one arch was built a year earlier. The inner gate was built in the Romanesque style. During the Austrian occupation in the 19th century, a wide gate was built into the inner gate.
Pile Gate
The Pile Gate is the western entrance to the old city and is located in the area of Pile, after which it was named. The Pile Gates are located on the site of an earlier fortress that existed in 972 and was destroyed in 1818. But even today you can see the remains of the fortress between the inner and outer gates. The outer gate was built in 1573 in the Renaissance style. Above it rises a statue of St. Blaise, the patron saint of the city. A stone bridge with three arches leads to the gate. The bridge was built in 1471. It is topped by a second movable bridge, which was raised at night and lowered in the morning for the population and traders in the time of the Dubrovnik Republic. An inner gate was built into the main walls. It was built in Gothic style in 1460 on the site of an old gate from the 13th century. The author of the statue of St. Blažej is the best Croatian sculptor of the 20th century, Ivan Meštrović.
Dubrovnik Cathedral
The Dubrovnik Cathedral was dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is the center of the Dubrovnik episcopate. It was built on the site of a Byzantine cathedral that was destroyed by a great earthquake in 1667. The current Baroque cathedral was built between 1671 and 1713. According to legend, it was built with money from the English King Richard the Lionheart, who was shipwrecked nearby while returning from a crusade in 1192. He donated 100,000 ducats as a great thank you. It was the first Romanesque basilica in the eastern Adriatic. It was unusually tall, as can be seen in photographs of Dubrovnik taken before the earthquake. A great contribution to the construction of the cathedral was made by Stepan Gradic, who found the architect Andrea Buffalini, whose designs for the cathedral were accepted by the Dubrovnik Senate in 1671. The construction of the Cathedral was completed in the Baroque style in 1713. The opening of the Cathedral was a great celebration. Above the main altar is a 16th century painting of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The painting was done by the Venetian painter Tiziano Vecelli, known as Titian. The altarpiece of St. John of Nepomuk is made of purple marble. The treasury of the cathedral contains church vessels, crosses, paintings by Italian and Croatian artists, including the 16th century painting “Virgin Mary with Child”, attributed to Italian artist Raphael. The treasury also houses a relic of the head of St. Blaise of the XI-XII centuries, decorated with precious stones.
St Blaise’s Church
The church was built on the bowl of a Romanesque cathedral, which had withstood a major earthquake in 1667 but was destroyed by fire in 1706. The new Baroque church was built between 1706 and 1715, designed by the Venetian architect Marino Gropelli. The church has a very ornate façade with a portal and dome. On the main altar is a statue of St. Blaise in gilded silver. In his hand he holds a model of the city, made before the earthquake of 1667. The statue survived the earthquake and the church fire. The Feast of St. Blaise is celebrated in Dubrovnik every year on February 3. However, local Croats call Blažej Vlaho, and traditionally he protects against throat and ear ailments. In front of the temple is a statue of the knight Orlando (Roland), who is the symbol of the free city-state.
St. Savior Church
The Church of the Holy Savior is located in the old part of the city and was built in 1520 as a thanksgiving service. When an earthquake struck Dubrovnik in 1520, about 20 people died and the buildings suffered significant damage. People thought that Mount Srdj would collapse on the city. In gratitude that this did not happen, the Dubrovnik senate decided to build this church next to the Franciscan monastery and the large Onofrio fountain. The new church was consecrated on the Feast of the Savior, and a procession was held on that day. The architect Petar Andrijic from Korcula was commissioned to build a church in the Renaissance style. When a major earthquake struck the city in 1667, the church was not damaged. Today concerts of classical music are held here.
Rector’s Palace or Prince’s Palace
This palace was built as the residence of the government and the prince, the highest political office in the Dubrovnik Republic. In the princely palace, the prince had his own office and apartment. It also housed the Great and Small Town Halls, government offices, the court, the jail, etc. Above the entrance there is a Latin inscription “Forget private affairs and take care of public ones”. The first mention of the building dates back to the XIII century, when it was a fortress. In the 14th century it was turned into a palace following the example of the Romans and Venetians. The project was supervised by the architect Onofrio de la Cava, who is credited with the representative Gothic-Renaissance facade. In XVII century, the building was completed in Baroque style. The Rector’s Palace performed its function until 1808, the end of the Dubrovnik Republic. Today it is a historical museum. The palace is furnished with furniture from the last period of the Dubrovnik Republic and the 19th century. It also has an exhibition of paintings by old masters from the 15th to the 19th century. During the Dubrovnik Summer Games concerts of classical music are held in the atrium.
Sponza Palace
This Gothic Renaissance palace was built between 1516 and 1521 by the Dubrovnik architect Paskoje Milicevic and the Andrić brothers from Korcula. During the period of the Dubrovnik Republic, it had various functions, from customs, treasury, bank to school and jewelry store. It was originally intended to be a customs office, where the merchants’ goods coming from various parts of the world were cleared. In the 16th century, the palace became the cultural center of the Dubrovnik Republic, and here the first literary institute was founded, where the most educated citizens of Dubrovnik met to discuss literature and the arts. Here was also founded the first school in Dubrovnik. Today here is the State Archives, which preserves the historical materials of the Dubrovnik Republic. The palace itself became one of the innermost documents of the archive. Every year on the square in front of the building is the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Games.
Stradun
Stradun, or Placa, is the main street of old Dubrovnik. The name Stradun comes from the Venetians and is the name of a large street. The name Placa comes from the Latin word “platea” and also means “street”. At the site of today’s Stradun was a swampy area that separated Ragusa from Dubrava. Filling in the swamp in the 9th century led to the formation of a single city. Stradun stretches from east to west and is located between two city gates. At the beginning and at the end are two fountains and two bell towers. It took on its present form after the earthquake of 1667, when many buildings were destroyed. Stradun is topped by Luža Square. Today, Stradun has its St. Blaise’s Day parade and Stradun’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are among the top ten in the world.
Onofrio’s Fountains
This fountain is located in the eastern part of Stradun and supplied water to the market on Luža square in Dubrovnik. It was built in 1438. Its architect was Onofrio della Cava, after whom it was named. The author of the sculptural decorations is Petar Martinov. In the Middle Ages it had a religious significance. It was used only by Christians. In the immediate vicinity there was a Jewish fountain that was used by Jews as a reservoir for water.
The Great Onofrio Fountain
The author of this fountain in the center of Dubrovnik is Onofrio della Cava. It was built in 1438 and was part of the Dubrovnik aqueduct. The fountain is located in front of the monastery of the Poor Clavs next to the Pila Gates. It was very ornate, and its current appearance dates from the period after the great earthquake of 1667. Water was available to the people of Dubrovnik in two places. In addition to these two fountains, there were many other, smaller ones.
Orlanda aka Roland statue
This column is the oldest surviving public sculpture in Dubrovnik. For a long time it was also the only monument. The column depicts a medieval knight with a sword. Dubrovnik historians attribute the creation of Roland’s Column to the legend of the hero who helped the city fight the Saracens. Such columns are typical of Germany, and there are only four monuments outside it. The most likely theory is that this column was erected during the stay of Sigismund of Luxembourg in Dubrovnik in 1396. The new column was built in 1418 and was a copy of the previous one. It was carved by the Italian Gothic sculptor Bonino da Milano. In 1825, the column was destroyed by a hurricane. The Austrians ruled Dubrovnik at the time, and repairs were delayed. The column was not repaired until fifty years later. Today, during the Dubrovnik Summer Games, a flag with the words freedom is raised over the Roland Column.
Bell Tower
The bell Tower is located in the center of Dubrovnik. The original old bell tower with a clock was built in 1444 and was 31 meters high. The metal plate, arrow indicating the changing phases of the moon and the wooden figures indicating the time were made by Luka Mihocin. The author of the large bell in 1506 is Ivan Rabljanin. Catastrophic earthquake in 1667 destroyed the bell tower and threatened to demolish it. In 1929 a new bell tower was built according to the old drawings.
Franciscan Church and Monastery
Franciscan monastery is a religious building and was built in the 14th century. The monastery is one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Croatia. Above the door to the church is a magnificent Gothic portal, which is the only one that survived the 1667 earthquake. The portal is the work of local stonemasons, the Andrijic brothers, from 1498. On the monastery grounds there is a pharmacy from 1317, which is one of the three oldest in Europe. Also preserved is a richly equipped library with 20,000 manuscripts. The museum collection includes paintings by old masters, especially by the Dubrovnik painter Lovre Dobricevic, original apothecary equipment and jewelry.
Dominican Monastery
The monastery is located in the eastern part of the old town. The Dominicans founded this monastery in 1225 and it was completed in the 14th century. The monastery also includes a church, which is one of the largest Gothic buildings on the eastern Adriatic coast. It was designed by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo and built by Dubrovnik masters. The southern portal was created by the sculptor Bonino da Milano in 1419. In the courtyard there is a stone well. The bell tower was begun by the Italian master Ceco in 1390, but was completed only in the 18th century. The monastery museum has valuable manuscripts and incunabula, paintings by Dubrovnik painters of the 15th and 16th centuries, paintings by the Venetian painter of the 14th century Paolo Veneziano and a painting of St. Magdalene by the famous Italian painter Titian.