Dubrovnik, places to visit?

A city rich in art, culture and architectural treasures.

Dubrovnik is located to the south of the eastern Adriatic coast and in addition to being a favourite destination for spending a holiday in a beautiful crystal-clear blue sea, it is above all a cultural destination, a museum-city that offers a perfect marriage between past and present. Dubrovnik has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Dubrovnik Photo: Copyright © Sisterscom.com - Shutterstock

Uncovering the city can begin from the Walls, Dubrovnik’s main landmark; 1,940 metres of Medieval ramparts preserved in their original form, which are proof of the city’s ancient history. These walls remain intact and feature five fortresses which offer an unforgettable view of the city, the island of Lokrum and the open sea. You can then head towards the Old Town, a pedestrianised area where every hidden corner boasts unique features, including surprising architecture, interesting entrance doors, palaces, churches, beautiful squares, such as the one with the Onofrio's Great Fountain, side streets, art galleries and museums.

Each corner of the city offers important treasures

The whole city is also home to important treasures. Precious works in gold dating back from the 11th to the 19th centuries can be found in the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, which features five large entrances and great dome. The collection of the Dubrovnik School of Art, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, can also be admired in the Dominican Museum, while the Rector's Palace houses the historical-cultural wing of the Dubrovnik Museum with a collection of works of art, antique furniture, ancient coins and the stock from the Domus Christy pharmacy of 1420.

San Biagio Church Dubrovnik Photo: Copyright © Sisterscom.com - Depositphotos

You can also visit the Maritime Museum to discover the history of the maritime traditions of Dubrovnik. Among the private galleries, the Gallery of Modern Art is particularly interesting, hosting works by Croatian and international painters.

Not to be missed is the Arboretum of Trsteno, a protected Renaissance monument to nature in the summer estate of the aristocratic Gucetic family, which has been famous for its rich and ancient collection of exotic plants since 1502. The city of Dubrovnik, in fact, is home to a variety and an abundance of subtropical flora. Both the coast and islands are covered with Mediterranean evergreens, pine woods and cypresses as well as vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees.

Another place worth visiting is the Franciscan Monastery of Dubrovnik, which houses the pharmacy of the Friars Minor, the third oldest in the world and the only one that has continued to provide pharmaceutical services since 1317. The recipes used to prepare some balms and ointments date back more than two hundred years.

Gliding through the air with the cable car, the view of Bubrovnik provides unique emotions

The ride offers a breathtaking view of the ancient city of Dubrovnik, the coastal attractions and small islands, golden beaches and magnificent sunsets. And to fully explore the Dubrovnik area by sea, the island of Lokrum and the entrancingly beautiful Elaphiti Islands are not to be missed.

The panoramic view of Dubrovnik from the cable car Photo: Copyright © Sisterscom.com - Shutterstock

Sports enthusiasts can experience the thrill of jeep safaris, horse riding, hiking and cycling in the Konavle Valley, canoeing on the sea, sailing to the Elaphiti Islands or visiting the National Park on the island of Mljet.

Whilst discovering the city you can also busy yourself shopping, browsing a variety of original Croatian and typical souvenirs of Dubrovnik: crafts made with precious stones, golden olive oil and cold-pressed soaps with perfumes of laurel and rosemary. To relax between one itinerary and another, just enter a bar, one of the many restaurants or taverns where you can savour typical products such as smoked ham, cheese in oil, octopus salad, zelena menestra (smoked meat and cabbage stew), grilled sardines, kontonjata (quince cheese), candied almonds, arancini (candied orange peel), grappa, red wines from the Pelješac peninsula, white wines from the island of Korčula, wines from the Konavle area and Malvasia, called the nectar of the gods.

Wholesome products and a good glass of wine

The rich culinary offer of the county of Dubrovnik accompanies the wines of the Peljesac peninsula and the island of Korčula. In addition to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, there are also excellent local wines such as Dingač, Postup, Plavac Mali, Kadarun, Dalmatinka and Malvasia blanc of Dubrovnik. Wines from the island of Korčula are three: Grk, Pošip and Rukatac (Maraština).

The delicacies of the region include:

kontonjata (a sweet made with quince), mantala (a sweet made of grape must, carob and walnuts)
arancina (candied orange peel), which combine well with Travarica (a herb grappa), Lozovača grape (grappa) and wines from Konavle and Malvasija of Dubrovnik.

There are numerous restaurants and taverns in the Neretva valley where you can try eel, toad, game and wild duck (liska).

Ston, instead, offer oysters, mussels and freshly caught fish. The foods to try on the islands of Mljet, Šipan, Lopud and Koločep are dishes of dried fish or seafood, while the restaurants of Dubrovnik and Konavle offer ham, cheese in oil, zelena menestra (stewed meat and cabbage) and other delicious dishes.

Text by Nicolò Villa

Avion Tourism Magazine
Photos for editorial use only: Sisterscom.com, Shutterstock / Depositphotos

Video: www.croatia.hr/it

Tourism Board

www.visitdubrovnik.hr

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Where to sleep in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

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Hotels in the districts

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Monuments of Dubrovnik

Old Town and Walls

Dubrovnik was an important power in the Mediterranean area in the thirteenth century and its town centre is delineated by fourteenth-century city walls and features Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches as well as convents, palaces and fountains. Of particular historic and artistic interest are: Pile Gate, Great Onofrio Fountain, Orlando’s Column, St. John’s Fortress, Franciscan Church, Square of the Loggia, Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace and Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin (Velika Gospa).

Church of Saint Blaise

The beautiful Church of Saint Blaise is found on the site of a fourteenth-century Romanesque church and was built in Baroque-Venetian style by the Venetian architect Marino Groppelli on a commission from the Senate of Dubrovnik. The church is dedicated to Saint Blaise, the saint protector of the city, because, in 1706, after the church was completely destroyed by fire, the only item to emerge miraculously intact from the ashes was a silver statue of the saint.

Saint John’s Fortress

Saint John’s Fortress was the main defensive fortress of the port of Dubrovnik. Its first tower was erected in the mid-fourteenth century, while the current semi-circular shape dates back to the sixteenth century. On the other side of the port stands Saint Luke’s Tower, built in the thirteenth century. In the past the city port was closed off at night with a chain that stretched from St. Luke’s Tower to the Mula Tower, today Saint John’s Fortress. The port jetty was instead constructed at the end of the fifteenth century by the engineer Paskoje Miličević.

Minčeta Fortress

The tower of the Minčeta Fortress has dominated Dubrovnik for centuries and has a fascinating architectural structure. The original building was smaller and square, and was 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 by Giorgio Orsini, sculptor, Italian Dalmatian architect (in Croatian Juraj Dalmatinac). The project was completed in 1464. The top of this impressive structure provides a stunning view of the town and all its surroundings.

Excursions

Kolocep

The lush Croatian island of Kolocep is part of the Elaphiti islands, and, together with the islands of Lopud and Šipan, is one of the largest and affords panoramic views. A local ferry departs from the Port of Gruz to the island. The island has numerous footpaths for peacefully walking among the lush and perfumed Mediterranean vegetation abundant with myrtle, bay, thyme and rosemary. It also has beautiful beaches for sunbathing and swimming.

Cavtat

The medieval village of Cavtat sits on the Rat Peninsula and is the ancient heart of Old Ragusa. The old centre features the home of the Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac, which is now a museum with murals and glass doors created by the artist. The mausoleum of the Račić family, Sokol Fortress, Rector’s Palace, Church of Saint Nicholas and Church of Our Lady of the Snow and Franciscan monastery with late-Gothic cloisters are other artistic and cultural treasure to see in Cavtat.

Lokrum

Lokrum is a small island off the coast of Dubrovnik, an oasis of peace and a protected nature park. It offers bathing sites, bays, extensive pine forests and subtropical vegetation. Sightseeing may take in the old Benedictine monastery dating back to the twelfth century, a small lake called the Dead Sea and the Fort Royal, which is the highest point on the island, a viewpoint that offers a beautiful view of Lokrum and all of Dubrovnik. Tourist boats take visitors from the port of the old town of Dubrovnik to Lokrum.

Mljet

Over the course of history Mljet has been inhabited by Greeks and Romans who left important archaeological remains, such as the building in the port of Polače.

Mljet, with its national park, is the greenest island in Croatia with lush Mediterranean vegetation, transparent sea, sandy beaches and a rich marine life. The island of Mljet is also known for its white and red wines, goat’s cheese and honey. Daily ferries depart from Dubrovnik for Mljet island.

Korčula

Korčula is an island in the region of Dalmatia that runs parallel with the nearby mainland and is the sixth largest island in the Adriatic Sea. It is separated from the Pelješac peninsula by the Pelješac channel.

The island of Korčula has been inhabited since prehistory with finds dating back to Neolithic times. The island is indented with a series of bays and inlets. Near the town of Curzola is an archipelago of twenty uninhabited islands covered in small dense forests and coastal areas ideal for a spot of sunbathing.

Lastovo

The island of Lastovo is located to the south of the island of Korčula and has two towns, Ubli and Lastovo. Lastovo offers beautiful bays, beaches, vineyards, olive groves and gardens, as well as old Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque residences. Worthy of visiting is the Church of Saints Kuzma and Damjan dating back to the fourteenth century, which has a Baroque high altar decorated with paintings of the saints Kuzma and Damjan dating back to the seventeenth century by the Venetian artist Giovanni Lanfranco. Also worth visiting is the Church of St. Mary of the Fields, built in the fifteenth century in Gothic-Renaissance style.

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