Some say that Dubrovnik is the most visited city in Croatia and we believe it! There’s a reason why it’s called the Pearl of the Adriatic—and it might just be the most beautiful city we have ever seen! Massive 16th century fortifications encircling the ancient medieval city; well-preserved structures despite the extensive damage caused by the 1667 earthquake and the more recent war that took place in the 1990s; the limestone-paved Stradun (or Placa) lined with shops and restaurants; the colorful red tiled roofs contrasting with the Adriatic Sea all add to its exquisite beauty. No wonder, that Dubrovnik’s entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! A must-see!
Walking on top of the City Walls
If you have time to do only one thing this is it! Walking on top of the walls is a wonderful way to admire the Old Town. Stunning vistas of the sea and surrounding area appear at every bend. It’s the perfect vantage point to take pictures and spy on the crowd down below.
Seeing the Big Onofrio’s Fountain from above gave us a different perspective and we realized how massive it really was. The fountain used to store the city’s water supply and had two floors; it’s still functional and the water is fresh and makes for the perfect place to refill your water bottle, as does the Small Onofrio’s Fountain located near the Church of St Blaise.
Built during the 13th to 16th century the fortifications are 1940-meter (6365ft) long and include forts and towers. Among them: the Fort of St John, which used to be the city’s main harbor defensive fortress, is now home to the maritime museum and the aquarium. The oceanside cylindrical-shaped Bokar Fort that faces the Lovrijenac Fortress and the historical Minčeta Tower, a 14th century fortress, is also the highest point in Dubrovnik’s Old Town making it the ideal spot for a panoramic city-view.
From the city walls we could see the Old Port and people swimming next to the wall. It looked really refreshing but since we didn’t have our swimming suits with us that day, taking a dip would have to wait…
The main entrance is located near the Pile Gate, a 16th century stone gate with a drawbridge. The moat next to it has been transformed into a lovely garden and this was a nice place to relax before continuing our self-guided city tour.
Tip: We were told that there weren’t any restrooms on top of the wall, but this isn’t true! There are plenty of restaurants and bars for a quick refreshment stop and all are equipped with facilities.
Exploring Dubrovnik’s Old Town
Roaming around the Old Town is the only way to explore the city’s historical center and get a closer look at its many highlights. Slowing down always enables us to really see what’s around us and gives us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in our surroundings. Take a breath and look around! Perhaps you’ll even notice small details that would have been missed otherwise.
After disembarking from our taxi boat in the Old Port we made our way inside the walled city and found ourselves next to the Church of St Blaise, which dates back to 1715 and was built in a lavish Baroque style. Out of respect we didn’t take any pictures inside as a service was taking place at the time. Facing the church there’s the 16th century Sponza Palace, formerly a custom house, now home to the city’s archives.
Both of these historical buildings are located by the Square of the Loggia and Clock Tower on the east end of the Old Town’s main artery, the Stradun (or Placa), which cuts through the city. Heading west on the Stradun we saw St Savior Church, a survivor of the 1667 earthquake. Next to it there is the 14th century Franciscan Monastery, which is now a museum displaying historical pharmaceutical displays and a library. It also houses a pharmacy that’s been in operation since 1317.
Since we were next to Big Onofrio’s Fountain, we filled our water bottles before going up for our walk around the city walls.
Other highlights inside the walled city include the Ploce Gate, a 14th century gate with a stone bridge and a statue of Sveti Vlaho.
Dominican Monastery founded in 1225, now converted into an art museum; the Rectors Palace, once a political and administrative centre, now the Cultural Historical Museum (closed for renovation at the time of our visit); Dubrovnik’s Cathedral, an 18th century Baroque style church with a rich treasury; and the Church of St Ignatus located at the top of the Jesuit Stairs leading down to the animated Gundulic Square, a plaza with a market and terrace restaurants.
Lovrijenac Fortress (Fort of St Lawrence)
This impressive 16th century seaside fortress was erected on top of a 37-meter (121ft) high cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the Old Town of Dubrovnik. It was built to defend the western side of the city and the Pile Gate from enemy attacks during medieval times. It’s located only 5 minutes walk from the Pile Gate.
We do love everything medieval and as confessed fans of the TV show “Game of Thrones”, this was a must-see for us. On the show, the fortress is the Red Keep in King’s Landing (Dubrovnik). We had fun pretending that we owned the place!
From the top, spectacular vistas of the walled city, fortifications and Adriatic Sea appeared before our eyes…
Tip: Greats views of Lovrijenac Fortress can be seen from the top of the city walls, Gradac Park or from the sea.
Cable car ride to the summit of Mt Srdj
Perhaps a bit touristy, but this is the best spot to get panoramic views of the iconic walled city, fortresses, harbors and Adriatic Sea. Also, much better than having to hike up along the long zigzag trail in the heat of the day with no shade in sight!
Inside Fort Imperial you’ll find the Homeland War Museum commemorating the Croatian War of Independence, which took place in the 1990s. The fort still has evidence of the bombing it sustained during the conflict.
Boat Tour
Hopping on a boat is a fun way to get a different perspective of the fortified city and harbor, Lovrijenac Fortress. It also lets you get a closer look of the neighboring Lokrum Island. Arriving back to the Old Port, it’s impossible to miss the imposing Fort of St John, built in 1346 to protect the city harbor.
Other places of interest around Dubrovnik include the Trsteno arboretum to the north and Cavtat to the south. Read more about these places in our post: Croatia Road Trip: A Self-Guided Adventure
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