Southern Dalmatia

About the region

Where to stay

Dubrovnik

Known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic" Dubrovnik is a historical phenomenon in a breathtakingly beautiful setting. George Bernard Shaw said after visiting in 1929: "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik".

The magic of Dubrovnik, an imagination etched in stone, has evoked the admiration of visitors since ancient times. Cradled at the base of the Srđ mountain and jutting out into the startlingly blue Adriatic, Dubrovnik was founded in the first half of the 7th century by a group of refugees from Epidaurum (today's Cavtat). They established their settlement on the island and named it Laus. In the 15th century during the Golden Period of Dubrovnik the territory of the Republic extended from Klek-Neum in the north to Sutorina (Boka Kotorska) in the south and a few kilometres inland. It included the islands of Šipan, Lopud and Koločep (after 1080), Mljet (1141) and Lastovo (1216), the town of Ston (1298) and the Pelješac Peninsula (1399). At its height the mainland coastal territory of the Republic of Dubrovnik stretched for approximately 120 kilometres.

Dubrovnik was awarded its own Statute as early as 1272 and merged Roman practice with local customs. The Statute included the town planning and regulations of quarantine.

Historically significant, the social infrastructure of the Republic of Dubrovnik was very progressive in its laws and it developed institutions that many other parts of Europe would not have until centuries later.

Of particular note:

• A medical service was introduced in 1301
• The first pharmacy (still working) was opened in 1317
• A refuge for old people was opened in 1347
• The first quarantine hospital (Lazarete) was opened in 1377
• Slave trading was abolished in 1418
• The orphanage was opened in 1432
• The water supply system (20 kilometres) was constructed in 1436

Dubrovnik was badly shaken by an earthquake in 1667, yet recovered. However, the event of Napoleon's army entering Dubrovnik in 1806 signalled the end of its independence.

Today Dubrovnik is a cultural heritage monument rightly recognised and protected by UNESCO. It is a place of living history set in one of the most spectacularly attractive locations in the Mediterranean and justly deserves its worldwide reputation.

• Stradun: Stradun is the famous and understated main street of the ancient town. Running from Pile Gate through to Luza Square, Stradun (properly known as Placa) is the Dubrovnik citizens favourite promenade.
• Luža square: Luža square was always the centre of public life in Dubrovnik and is home to many of Dubrovnik's significant building, the Sponza and Knežev dvor palaces , the baroque church of St Vlaho, the Town Bell and the Main Guard building, and in the middle is Orlando's column from the 15th century.
• Walls: The monumental walls surrounding the Old Town of Dubrovnik are 1940 m long, up to 25 m tall and up to 6 m thick. This wall is secured in place by a total of fifteen towers, twelve of them four-cornered and the remaining three being round in addition to five bastions and the larger fortress of St. Ivan. From The Walls one has a magnificent view of the open sea , Srđ mountain above the town and the unique town inside the walls. Additionally the two separate fortresses Revelin (on the east side) and Lovrijenac (on the west) overlook the city.
• Churches: Inside the Dubrovnik walls are 17 churches and monasteries including the famous St Vlaho's and the Baroque Cathedral. On the location of the historic Jewish quarter is also a synagogue from the 15th century, one of the oldest in eastern Europe.
• Dubrovnik summer festival: If you are in Dubrovnik during the traditional summer festival (July and August), you will have the opportunity of attending one of the drama performances or concerts in the open spaces all around the town. One of the summer festival stages is the Fortress Lovrijenac.