Dubrovnik, Croatia

Overview

Called the "Pearl of the Adriatic" because of its masterful town planning in the late 12th century, Dubrovnik skillfully manipulated hostile neighbors to maintain its independence during its two-centuries long golden age. Then a mammoth earthquake leveled it. Rebuilt in the Baroque period, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has again repaired itself after the 1991 war. It's beautiful even if a bit too popular for its own good.

See the Dubrovnik Overview as a web page (this provides translation, double-click term definitions, etc. Pictures can be seen full screen size by clicking on them). Start by clicking here. OR See it as a photo slide show which contains the same text but presents the pictures full screen size.  If so, click on the slides presentation at the right -- or click here.

The Walls of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik's walls are highly visible as one approaches the city, day or night, from land or by sea.  One of the strongest set of fortifications in Europe, these were never breached, not even during the 1991 war with modern weapons (manned by incompetent soldiers). Some of the towers are Renaissance fortification gems themselves and the entire set of walls still engirds Baroque Dubrovnik.

See the Walls of Dubrovnik supplement as a web page by clicking here. OR See it as a photo slide show by clicking here. If you're into old city walls, you may want to check other pages that are quite popular on the web: The Walls of York,  the Walls of London, and Hadrian's Wall.

Rector's Palace

While most of the world was chaos or monarchy, Dubrovnik stayed a republic, jealously guarding its freedom from tyrants.  Their governors (rectors) served one-month terms so that they could not consolidate power.  During that month, they were virtual prisoners of this beautiful gothic/renaissance/baroque building with a wonderful atrium.

See the Rector's Palace supplement as a web page by clicking here. OR See it as a photo slide show by clicking here.

Churches

Like any significant Catholic city, Dubrovnik had the three great religious orders anchoring its old town.  The Dominican and Franciscan monasteries survive at the east and west ends, and a beautiful Baroque Jesuit church (copied after its namesake in Rome) holds the south. Several other Renaissance and Baroque churches also command tourist attention.

See the Churches and Monasteries Supplement as a web page by clicking here. OR See it as a photo slide show by clicking here

Trsteno Arboretium

Dalmatia's sun allowed noble families to extend their living rooms into Renaissance gardens that rivaled those in Italy (but were much more steep and rocky, given Dubrovnik's craggy coast.) See the most elaborate of these about twelve miles from town.

See the Trsteno Arboretium supplement as a web page by clicking here. OR See it as a photo slide show by clicking here.

Thanks for visiting. Visit all of our travel pages by clicking here.

---

TIP: See the rest of our travel pictures by clicking here.