Wonderful medieval city of Croatia

is the now pearl of South Dalmatia

In 1979 the city of Dubrovnik joined the Unesco list of World

Heritage Sites. It’s a city of about 45.000 people on the southern

coast of the Adriatic Sea and its old Venetian name was Ragusa.

It was vary wealthly port especially in the 15th and 16th

centuries.

In Croatian, and all other Slavic languages, the city is know as

Dubrovnik.

1. Theory: it was founded in the 7th century by people

escaping from Slavic invasion.

2. Theory: it was founded by Greek people because it was

found a Byzantine church.

The importance of Dubrovnik is that it was for centuries a

city-state among powerful State:

� the Republic of Venice

� Hungary

� Ottman Empire

From 1205 to 1358 it was controlled by Venice.From 1205 to 1358 it was controlled by Venice.

The Republic of Ragusa was very modern as it received the statutes

in 1272.

* 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 kilometers) was constructed in 1436.* The water supply system (20 kilometers) was constructed in 1436.

The city was ruled by the local aristocracy.

As for the languages

spoken in Dubrovnik we

have two remember the

romance Dalmatian, the

Slavic Croatian and even

the venetian dialect.

The Republic gradually declined after a crisis of Mediterranean

shipping and especially a catastrophic earthquake in 1667.

You can see the monument after the earthquake.

Few of Dubrovnik's Renaissance buildings survived the earthquake

of 1667 but fortunately enough remain to give an idea of the

city's architectural heritage. The finest Renaissance highlight is

the Sponza Palace which dates from the 16th century and is

currently used to house the National Archives. The Rectors Palace

is a Gothic-Renaissance structure that displays finely-carved

capitals and an ornate staircase. It now houses a museum.

The St Saviour Church is another remnant of the Renaissance

period, next to the much-visited Franciscan Monastery.period, next to the much-visited Franciscan Monastery.

Dubrovnik's most beloved church is St Blaise's church, built in the

18th century in honor of Dubrovnik's patron saint. Dubrovnik's

baroque Cathedral was built in the 18th century and houses an

impressive Treasury with relics of Saint Blaise. The city's Dominican

Monastery resembles a fortress on the outside but the interior

contains an art museum and a Gothic-Romanesque church.[21] A

special treasure of the Dominican monastery is its library with over

220 incunabula, numerous illustrated manuscripts, a rich archive

with precious manuscripts and documents and an extensive art

collection.[

A feature of Dubrovnik is its

walls that run 2 km around

the city. The walls run from

four to six metres thick on

the landward side but are

much thinner on the

seaward side. The system of

turrets and towers were

intended to protect the

vulnerable city.vulnerable city.

One of the best ways to get a

feeling for Dubrovnik is to take a

2km walk around the city walls.

You can enjoy an exceptional

panorama, the natural beauty of panorama, the natural beauty of

the sea and the ancient city will

leave you fascinated.

Our next destination is the

church dedicated to St. Blaise.

The church built in the 18th

century in honor of Dubrovnik’s

patron saint.

The city's Cathedral is a Baroque

style and is one of the main

attractions of the City.

Straight ahead is the town's

main street, Placa or

Stradun, Dubrovnik's most

illustrious feature,punctuated

by the clock tower at the

end.

Along this wide gleaming Along this wide gleaming

street lined with shops and

cafes, all Dubrovnik's

processions take place.

You can relax with a drink

immersed in the heart of the

city.

Right in front of the Pile Gate

entrance is the circular Onofrio

Fountain (named after its

Neapolitan builder) built in the

15th century and sporting 16

carved masks.carved masks.

Opposite is the Franciscan Monastery with the restored sculpture of the Pieta over the entrance door. Inside is the Pharmacy dating from the 14th century and a gorgeous cloister also from the 14th century. Next to the monastery is the 16th-century St Saviour16th-century St SaviourChurch, one of the few Renaissance structures to survive the earthquake of 1667.There are often concerts and exhibitions here.

A few steps away you can admire the imposing SponzaPalace.You may visit the ground floor and the Museum of the Dubrovnik Defenders.

The Renaissance highlight you can visit is the Rector's Palace. It was built in the late 15th century for Dubrovnik's 15th century for Dubrovnik's ruler, the elected Rector, who held office for one month on a revolving basis and was not allowed to leave during his term. The interior has been turned into a fascinating museum with renovated rooms, furnishings and art from Dubrovnik's glorious past.

Across the square and marvel at

the beauty Dubrovnik's

baroque Cathedral. Built in the

18th century after an

earthquake destroyed the

original,the cathedral is still

being explored after

excavations revealed traces excavations revealed traces

dating back to the 7th century.

Don't miss the Treasury with its

relics from St Blaise and a

Madonna attributed to Raphael.

Between the Rector's Palace

and the Cathedral is Gundulic

square, scene of a morning

market and the deluxe Pucic

Palace hotel, the only luxury

hotel in the Old Town. In the

centre of town is a statue of

Dubrovnik's renowned poet

statue

Dubrovnik's renowned poet

Ivan Gundulic.

You can capture the lively

spirit of the city.

Our final destination is the

Ploce Gate; you'll come to the

Dominican Monastery with a

sober exterior that blends into

Dubrovnik's walls. The art

collection here centers on

Dubrovnik's finest painters,

mostly from the 15th and 16th mostly from the 15th and 16th

centuries. There's also a lovely

cloister dedicated to St

Sebastian.

Dubrovnik is one of the major tourist attractions around

the world, immerse yourself in local traditions and savor

the fresh taste of the city, you can enjoy a pleasant

climate and you can relax and enjoy the Croatian coast,

not only tanning but also diving in the crystal sea, fishing,

horseback riding and walking in nature.