A beautiful city, and also one of the best European resorts, is comfortably located on the Adriatic Sea, in the very south of Dalmatia. The Croatian town dates back to the 7th century and until 1918 was called Ragusa.
The city has preserved many historical monuments, and recent history has given it a lot of wonderful places that tourists love so much. We will get to know the town better and introduce the most beautiful sights of Dubrovnik.
1
Lokrum Island
The unusual name of this island, located near Dubrovnik, was given by Benedictine monks. They grew trees with sour fruits in the open spaces of the island and the word “acrumen”, transformed into Lokrum, means “sour fruit”.
The city has been known since 1023, when the monks founded the abbey here, the remains of which have survived to this day. Other attractions include the Napoleon Fort, erected in 1806.
The island is shrouded in many legends, according to one of which during the shipwreck, the English monarch Richard, nicknamed the Lionheart, landed on its shore.
By the way, you can read about the most beautiful islands in the world in one of the articles on our site most-beauty.ru.
2
Dubrovnik city walls
Around the historical part of the city, defensive walls were preserved, the construction of which began in the 7th century, and they acquired their final shape in the 14th century.
The unique monument of fortification stretched back to 1940, and its height in some places reaches 25 m. From the sea, the width of the walls varies from 1.5 to 3 m, but on land the stone giants reach a width of 6 m.
The craftsmanship of the architects tested the strength of the strong earthquake of 1667, during which the walls stood, and today are of interest to researchers and numerous tourists.
3
Fort Bokar
The fort, part of the urban defense system, was built under the personal supervision of Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, and spent 80 years on its construction.
The main function of the two-tier fortress was to protect the main city gate, the moat and the bridge leading to the city. The building is decorated with a unique stone diadem, erected in the upper part of the fort.
Experts agree that the fort is one of the most beautiful defensive structures in Europe, perfectly fit into the overall defense system of Dubrovnik.
4
Sponza Palace
We will go to the Old Town and consider the architectural features of the magnificent palace built in the Gothic style at the beginning of the 16th century.
It is located on the Lodge Square, which is considered a favorite place for hiking tourists. At different times, various institutions were located in the beautiful palace. Original Customs. Then a treasury, a mint bank, and even a school.
Now it is an archive in which unique historical documents and rare manuscripts are collected. On the square in front of the architectural miracle of the Renaissance, the Dubrovitsky Summer Festival is annually held, gathering thousands of participants.
5
Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius
The project of the church was developed by the famous architect Ignatius Pozzo, and it was built from 1699 to 1703. Now it rises above Gundulich Square.
Construction and finishing were completed by 1725, and the consecration was in 1729. Funds for the construction were allocated by one of the Gundulich clan, but died before laying the first stone.
Nearby is a Jesuit school, and a long stone staircase connects Gundulich Square with Ruger Boshkovich Square. The entire Baroque architectural complex in the heart of the historical part of the city is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Croatia.
6
Stradun Street
On the site of the main shopping street of Dubrovnik, the waters of the bay once splashed, separating the island of Ragusa from the coastal settlement of the Slavs.
Over time, hardworking and enterprising residents filled the bay, and the place was paved with marble slabs. So, the city acquired another street, which housed retail shops and shops. Two fountains and cozy houses built in a local colorful style became a real decoration of the historic street.
Favorite place for walking locals and tourists. There are many souvenir shops, and in cafes and restaurants you can try national dishes.
7
Mincheta Tower
The historical symbol of the Croatian resort, the Mincheta Tower is the highest point in the northern part of the defensive walls, and the first structure appeared on this site in 1319.
In the middle of the 15th century, a round stone tower began to rise above the city, built according to all the canons of the fortification architecture of medieval Europe. In the walls, the thickness of which reached 6 m, loopholes were made for viewing and firing.
To complete the work, an architect from the city of Zagreb, Giorgio da Shebenico, was invited, who made the tower higher and strengthened its base.
8
Fort Lovrienac
A beautiful castle on a rock, which in the guidebooks is designated as Fort lovrijenac, and Lovrienac sounds in Russian, is called the “Dubrovnik Gibraltar”.
Indeed, it is located on a high cliff, protruding far into the sea. This is a unique architectural complex consisting of a defensive tower and a theater. The fort was an important strategic object in protecting the city, and the theater gathered thousands of spectators in peacetime.
The unique and architectural structure of Fort St. Lawrence, consisting of three terraces towering at an altitude of 37 m above the waters of the Adriatic Sea.
9
Fortress of St. John
On the map of Croatia, it is in Dubrovnik that there are most of all the fortifications of the Middle Ages, which also include the fortress, named after the saint especially revered by the southern Slavs.
It was erected at the beginning of the XIV century, and the main function was to protect against pirates and enemy ships. During the XV-XVI centuries, the fortress was rebuilt several times, and the port entrance was blocked by a powerful chain stretching between the two banks of the bay.
Today, within the walls of a medieval fortress is a maritime museum. And on the ground floor there is an aquarium with unique and rare species of fish and marine life.
10
Princely palace
The most beautiful palace in which the princely residence was located was built in the 15th century. Architecture harmoniously combines elements of the Gothic and the Early Renaissance, which makes the building unique and incredibly beautiful.
The facade is decorated with a majestic colonnade and large stained glass windows. The building has repeatedly suffered from fires, hostilities and numerous earthquakes, but still survives to this day.
In front of the building is a monument to the sailor Pratsat, who died in the 17th century and wrote off his entire fortune to the Dubrovitsky Republic. Now the historical building houses the expositions of the city museum.
11
Pile Gate
You can get from the west to the historical part of Dubrovnik through the gates of Pile, and it is with them that acquaintance with the monuments and beauties of the city begins.
Once upon a time there was a tower on this place, after the destruction of which in 1818, only the gates remained. The gates themselves are a unique example of the Renaissance, and above them stands a statue of Blasius of Sevastia - the patron saint of the city and its inhabitants.
A stone bridge with three semicircular arches leads to the gate. It is interesting that the gates can still be locked with a key, and this amazing artifact is stored in the Princely City Palace.
12
Franciscan Monastery
So historically, the Balkans have become the crossroads of various teachings and religious beliefs.
In the XIV century, a monastery was erected within the city, from which the southern portal and the magnificent tower have survived to this day. Reviews of tourists about this architectural monument are full of enthusiastic epithets.
You can explore the beauties of the monastery with magnificent interior decoration on your own, as well as as part of a group where the guide will tell the whole story and interesting facts.
13
Dominican monastery
Since we were talking about monasteries, and presented their photos, you can not pass by the side and the Dominican monastery.
They built their monastery in the 13th century and rebuilt it several times until such a wonderful Baroque building grew. The main shrine of the monastery is the crucifix, and a fresco by Paolo Veneziano, located above the central altar.
Today it is not just a monument of architecture, but also a unique art gallery, which contains masterpieces of painting by Venetian and Dubrovnik masters of the XIII-XVII centuries.
14
Lazareti
Not far from the old harbor is a complex of ten brick buildings and five cozy courtyards, towering above the sea on rocky ledges.
In the Middle Ages, the city by the sea was an important trading center, in which a large market functioned and fairs were held annually. Goods were brought from different parts of Europe and Asia, and the city authorities, fearing epidemics, built a quarantine infirmary in 1590.
Over time, the building has lost its original purpose, and now entertaining events are held here, and the Otok Museum has been opened in one of the houses.
15
Fort Ravelin
The name of the fortress comes from the name of the additional fortification “ravelin”, and the fort was erected in order to protect against attacks from Venice in 1456.
A century later, the city authorities decided to strengthen the defense, and in 1538, in front of one of the gates, a new, more powerful structure grew. During the fortification in the city, any stone construction was banned, since all the material went to the construction of the fortress.
The unique fortification monument has the shape of an irregular quadrangle, and the walls on the sea side are slightly lower compared to the fortifications on land.
16
Church of the Holy Savior
An earthquake occurred in this part of the Balkan Peninsula at the beginning of the 16th century, but most of the city was not affected. In honor of this miraculous salvation, the city authorities decided to build a church.
In 1520, construction began, and within a few years the first divine services took place within its walls. It is noteworthy that the Church of St. Savior resisted during the strong earthquake of 1620, which was a real miracle, as many buildings were almost destroyed.
The Gothic building is decorated with a traditional gothic window-rose, and in front of the church the Onofrio's Great Fountain, which has been functioning since the mid-15th century, is pleasing to the eye.
17
Cathedral
The author of the project of the cathedral, built and consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, was the famous Roman architect Andrea Bufalini, and Italian architects helped him.
It was built at the turn of the XVII-XVIII centuries in the majestic Baroque style, but the local master Ilya Kalchich completed the decoration of the basic elements. That is why the cathedral has incorporated the universally recognized elements of world architecture and local traditions.
One legend says that a new cathedral was built on the site of the church that Richard the Lionheart ordered to build here, landed on these shores, returning from the Crusade.
18
Ethnographic Museum of Rupe
The unique museum is located in a building of the XVI century, and previously used as a huge granary.
15 wells were cut down in the rock, which, in fact, housed the museum’s expositions. The walls are covered with moisture-resistant plaster. Here are household items, decorative art, national costumes and dishes. The museum is interesting in that it contains artifacts from different historical eras from the early Middle Ages.
On the ground floor of an unusual museum, an exhibition of Croatian folk art is constantly working, which contains unique and rare exhibits and objects of decorative and applied art.
In conclusion
On our site most-beauty.ru you can admire the other most famous sights of the country.
So our review of the beautiful places of the Croatian resort has come to a close, and now we know what to see in Dubrovnik and where to relax in this city, having received a lot of positive emotions and unforgettable impressions. And nearby is picturesque Montenegro, so that, having planned a sightseeing tour, you can visit the beautiful city of Croatia and the beauty of the southern Balkans at one time.
Article author: Valery Skiba