Beautiful Dubrovnik – a gem on the Adriatic

Working on cruise ships, I have visited many wonderful places, but Dubrovnik is one of my favourites (take a look at some of my photos).

In recent years it has become famous as ‘Kings Landing’ in the popular TV series Game of Thrones, and there is no escaping its presence.

What to see and do:

Dubrovnik Old Town

Jutting out into the Adriatic Sea with a backdrop of rugged limestone mountains, Dubrovnik Old Town is known as one of the world’s finest and most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world. For centuries, Dubrovnik rivalled Venice as a trading port, with its huge sturdy stone walls, built between the 11th and 17th centuries, affording protection to this former city-state.

Main Attractions:

City Walls

Walk around the walls of the old city. The walls completely surround the city and you’ll need two hours to walk the whole of it!

You’ll wander past tiny hidden streets and lively squares, and you’ll even get a stunning sight of the crystal clear Adriatic sea and the island of Lokrum.

Palaces

Sponza – the history of this building is interesting, and there are some architectural features worth viewing,

Palace Knezev Dvor – was originally built in the 13th century and rebuilt later on two occasions in a Venetian-Gothic style designed by Michelozzo Michelozzi.

Churches

St. Saviour Church – was built in 1520 s immediately after the earthquake in Dubrovnik in gratitude that the town had been spared from destruction. It is a single nave building with a Gothic-cross-ribbed vault, considered to be the first comprehensive Renaissance-style building in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik Cathedral – The Dubrovnik Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built in the 17th century replacing the older cathedral that was destroyed in the earthquake. The cathedral has a lovely interior, with numerous old religious paintings, one of them of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary that is attributed to Titian. The cathedral is free to visit so this is one of the must-see sights in the Old town.

Monasteries

Dominican Monastery – is located just behind the Sponza Palace and Ploce Gate. The monastery that dates from the 14th century features beautiful stairways that lead to the church and the statue of St. Dominic. In the heart of the monastery, there is a 15th-century Gothic cloister with arches, columns, plants and well.

Franciscan Monastery & Cloister – The Franciscan Church and Monastery is a large complex belonging to the Order of the Friars Minor. It consists of a monastery, a church, a library and a pharmacy. The Romanesque cloister of the Franciscan Monastery is one of the finest features of Dubrovnik’s architecture.

This magnificent 14th-century creation of local sculptor Mihoje Brajkov consists of rows of elegant double-pillared columns encircling the Monastery’s inner courtyard.

Fountain

Onofrio’s Fountain – one of Dubrovnik’s most famous landmarks, this circular fountain was built in 1438 as part of a water-supply system that involved bringing water from a spring 12km away. Originally the fountain was adorned with sculptures, but it was heavily damaged in the 1667 earthquake and only 16 carved masks remain, with drinkable water dribbling from their mouths into a drainage pool. It’s sibling, the ornate Little Onofrio Fountain, is in Luža Square at the other end of Stradun.

The Cable Car –  “take the cable car for great views over the city. At the top is also a great bird-watching spot!”

Head to Dubrovnik‘s old town to set off on a breathtaking journey that will take you 405 metres above sea level!

Did you know the cable cars started back in 1969 but were entirely destroyed in the Croatian War of Independence? Luckily they were restored in 2010 to keep giving you panoramic views you’ll want to capture forever.

Away from the City – Whilst most of the advice given is centred on the city itself, if Dubrovnik doesn’t appeal or you’ve been before then Joan C has a recommendation: “We did a coach tour outside of the city into the countryside. It was brilliant- we had lunch in an old vineyard with a waterwheel!”

Ever heard of olive oil tasting? Your time outside of Dubrovnik doesn’t need to be dull; just South of the city you can go on a tour of the local producers and taste their olive oil!

And if you’re not planning on heading north then don’t skip past the small village of Popovici where you can go horseback riding along the edge of the rocky coastline (the views are spectacular.

A Fun Fact – one more brilliant thing about walking the walls is the giant ice creams from Main Street! You’d pay a lot more in Rome, but for just two euros you can choose from 50 flavours.

Have you been to Dubrovnik and were you enthralled as much as I was?

Share your thoughts with me and your fellow travellers.

Would you like to visit Dubrovnik and other wonderful cities along this majestic coastline?

If the answer is yes, then get in touch with me.  I’d love to share my experiences with you.