Dubrovnik, Croatia, is a picturesque city with 7th century massive medieval stone walls constructed 800 years later overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Dubrovnik is called the Pearl of the Adriatic Sea. The best time to travel to Dubrovnik is late spring, and early fall, with beach bathing temperatures and hotel room rates, will also drop.
Photo by Belen Ward
History
Dubrovnik was discovered about 614 as Rausa by the Roman refugees escaping the Slav and Afar war conquered by the Epidaurus southeast of Dubrovnik, according to Britannica. The Slavs and Romans created a colony developing a civilization.
The Byzantine Empire took the power of Dubrovnik after the fall of Rome. Dubrovnik defended itself from foreign forces from the 9th century to the 12th century. With the Venetian division, it continued to be an independent and liberal state which was an asylum for refugees from all nations.
The Dalmatia port was sold to Venice in 1420, with Dubrovnik remaining a free city republic for centuries with a relationship between the East and West. Dubrovnik signed a treaty with Turkey that opened trade opportunities with the Ottoman Empire and Europe. By the 16th century, Dubrovnik was trading with India and the Americas.
Photo by Belen Ward
In the late 18th century, Dubrovnik was the first to be recognized by the United States as an independent republic. The city sent ships to Spain in 1588 during the Armada invasion of England.
By the 15th and 17th centuries, Dubrovnik earned the title of South Slav Athens thrived with art and literature, developing the South Slav language into literature along with maritime and trade achievements.
An earthquake hit parts of the city, destroying the cathedral, monasteries, and places and killing 5,000 residents. During the Napoleonic wars, Dubrovnik, from 1800 to 1805, remained a neutral state of power and regained success with trade.
In 1808 Napoleon gained control of Dubrovnik, and in 1815 Congress of Vienna gave it to Austria, and in 1918, it became part of Yugoslavia and Croatia in 1939.
A bustling city
Today Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, and its seaport is the center of the Dubrovnik-Nerva County.
Photo by Belen Ward
The best things to do in Dubrovnik
Take a scenic walk on the medieval Dubrovnik walls, which takes about two hours around the city with spectacular views.
The Dubrovnik Cathedral is stunning Barque Architecture with a domed roof. The cathedral has art dating back to the 1500s with 100 holy relics, gold, silver, and part of the cross of Jesus’s crucifixions and the patron saint of St. Blaise.
Visit the old town of Dubrovnik, Loggia Square with its historic buildings, the church of St. Blaise, Orlando’s Column, and Onofrio Fountain. The main attraction of the Dubrovnik city wall is Pile Gate, a drawbridge surrounded by a moat. The bridge was raised at night to protect the city from foreign enemies.
The Franciscan Monastery was built in the 1300s with a library of over 21,000 rare manuscripts, and it is one of the third oldest pharmacies that served the locals with medicine. It’s also a museum with fine art and artifacts.
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Fort Lovrijence was a Dubrovnik defense overlooking the Dalmatian Coast and Adriatic Sea to watch for incoming enemies. Ride the cable car 1,350 feet over the beautiful city of the old town of Dubrovnik and the mountainside of Mount Srd.
Head to Banje Beach, white sand with the crystal blue sea of the Adriatic Coast. Its calm waters are great for kayaking. There is a variety of waterfront beach restaurants. Lokrum Island is a short ferry ride away with ancient churches, midland saltwater lakes, dense forest, a botanical garden, and a nudist beach.
Rectors Palace, built in 1435, is one of Dubrovnik’s best museums and the unique architecture of the Renaissance and Gothic styles. Sometimes you could catch a live music performance in the main square.
You can take a Game of Thrones tour of all the places where the series is filmed using historical landmarks.
Dubrovnik Museum of Modern Art opened in 1945 with a collection of over 3,000 pieces by famous artists Marko Murat, Niko Miljan, and Marko Rasica. The museum also has a modern art collection from the 19th century until the second World War.
Take a day trip to Montenegro, a two-hour drive from Dubrovnik- a charming old medieval village with a wall.
Elafiti Island is on the North of the Dalmatian Coast with six pieces of land. The islands have a beautiful ancient village of Lopud, with narrow streets, historical homes, and monasteries with gorgeous gardens. Visit the fruit groves on Sipan and the forest of Kolocep.
For the wine enthusiasts, take a wine tour sampling different grapes from the Croatian Uplands to Slavonia and Danube. Dubrovnik is known for being a wine-growing country with the perfect climate to grow grapes. Croatia is home to about 300 wine districts.
Dubrovnik offers a few famous cliff bars with outdoor terraces and panoramic views of the city and ocean.
Tips to get around Dubrovnik
Wake up early before the old town gets busy and avoid cruise ships which are an excellent time to take a day trip. Also, keep your passport handy if you cross a border. Everything in Dubrovnik was within walking distance of the old town.
You can rent a car to travel through Croatia, and public transportation is another option with buses and boats.
Photo by Belen Ward