The Old Town of Dubrovnik juts out into the Adriatic Sea and features a rugged limestone mountain as its backdrop. It’s considered one of the finest and best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. At one point in history, the city rivaled Venice for its reputation as a trading port. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The entire city is also built with a wall. These huge, sturdy stone walls, built from the 11th to 17th centuries, protected the entire city-state. To this day, these walls remain standing and have become a huge part of the city’s identity, particularly within the historic center.
Explore by foot
The Old City and historic center of Dubrovnik are the best places to see in the city. Despite being a small area, there are many attractions to see. It’s easy to explore the place on foot since it’s a small space.
Gates and Forts
Medieval ramparts surround the entire historic center offering a sense of protection throughout this entire settlement, especially during the Medieval times. To enter the historic center of Dubrovnik, you must pass through the Pile City Gate.
This serves as the main entrance to the city, overlooked by two forts. Minceta Fort is one of the most beautiful forts in the world and has become a symbol of the city of Dubrovnik. Meanwhile, Bokar Fort’s purpose is to defend the city from any attacks coming from the sea. Today, the fort serves as a venue for performances, particularly during the annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
Sights in the Old Town
Upon entering the city gate, the beautiful and awe-inspiring Onofrio Fountain will greet you. This is the favorite meeting place for the youth in the city. Another one of the most interesting monuments within the Old City of Dubrovnik is the Franciscan Monastery. This monastery features the perfect blend of Gothic and Romanesque architecture.
As you continue exploring the historic center of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, you will be able to explore the most popular street in Dubrovnik: Stradun. Souvenir shops, cafes, bars, coffee shops, and galleries fill this street. Here it’s never quiet and is always bustling with people. Several street entertainers delight the crowd of tourists.
When you reach the end of Stradun Street, you will find a lovely square that is another favorite among tourists. This square is home to many important historical sites within Dubrovnik. One of them is the Sponza Palace, built in the 16th century and now used for housing the National Archives today.
Another magnificent historical and architectural feature is the Rector’s Palace. This is a Gothic-Renaissance structure that features carved capitals and is best known for its ornate staircase. Meanwhile, the St. Savior Church is right next to the Franciscan Church and Monastery. These two are important remnants from the Renaissance period.
Roland was a knight in service of Emperor Charlemagne, the Frankish emperor who unified much of Europe under his rule. He was also the military governor of the Breton March when Charlemagne marched against the Bretons. Roland accompanied his master in a campaign against the Saracens (the Muslims of the Umayyad Caliphate) in Spain.
Retreating Franks
That war did not go well for the Franks, and Charlemagne had to retreat. As Charlemagne’s forces made their way back through the Pyrenees, the local Basque tribes, never controlled by the Franks, rebelled again. They ambushed the Frankish army at Roncevaux Pass, a narrow forested gorge.
According to legend, Roland died protecting the rear of the Emperor’s army. Roland’s fame grew after his death. He became one of the central figures in the Matter of France, a cycle of medieval poetry comparable to the Arthurian legends in Britain. As the years went by, Roland’s legend spread all over continental Europe.
In Italy, he became Orlando, the main character of two masterpieces of Renaissance poetry, Orlando Innamorato (Orlando in Love) and Orlando Furioso (Mad Orlando).
The Legend of Roland
In the legends, Roland becomes the chief paladin of Emperor Charlemagne and his most trusted knight. In the Late Middle Ages, he became a symbol of imperial authority over the local nobility. So-called “Roland’s columns” arose here and there. They symbolize the free cities’ independence protected by an emperor—a protection pitted against that of local rulers. The first such column came in place in 1404 in Bremen.
In much the same way, Orlando’s column in Dubrovnik came in place as a symbol of the city’s sovereignty and freedom amid the hostile neighboring powers.
Orlando’s column is in the main square of the old city, in front of the Saint Blaise Cathedral. It came in place in 1419, when the Republic of Dubrovnik was entering its most illustrious phase in history.
Address: 20000, Grad
The 12th-century Dubrovnik Cathedral in Croatia is home to an extraordinary reliquary museum containing more than 200 ornate gold and silver reliquaries.
The cathedral’s treasury, protected from visitors by a glass wall, is like a curio cabinet for holy body parts. The gilded shelving was custom-built for relics of all shapes and sizes.
Each bone fragment and mummified part in its proper place. The reliquaries themselves have shapes like the objects they hold. Arm-shaped reliquaries hold arm bones, leg-shaped reliquaries house leg bones and head-shaped reliquaries hold skull caps.
Relics of special note include the gold-plated arm, leg, and skull of Saint Blaise believed to be baby Jesus’s swaddling clothes, and a piece of the true Cross.
Address: Ul. kneza Damjana Jude 1
If you enter the Old Town of Dubrovnik by the Pile Gate, as you walk along the Stradun, the main street, look around and you might spot a strange gargoyle head protruding from a stone wall.
It’s on the left side, next to the entrance to the Franciscan monastery and the stairway that leads up to the city’s famous walls. The head stands some half a meter above the ground.
It sticks out 15 centimeters and its top surface has a marble-like polish. The wall above it is greasy from the touch of a thousand hands.
The legend
Legend has it that if you manage to hop on the head, keep your balance, and take off your shirt while still standing facing the wall, luck in love will follow you.
The gargoyle head is supposed to represent an owl. It was once the end of a pipe that drained rainwater from the top of the building. Rerouting of the pipes took place a long time ago. Water doesn’t flow from its mouth anymore.
Address: Ul. kneza Domagoja 1b
At the altar of the Church of Saint Blaise lies the waxy body of a 4th-century martyr.
His head is thrown back on the pillow to show a bloody gash on his neck, indicating the means of his martyrdom. We don’t know much about St. Silvan or his history, but his impressive incorruptible body has earned him a special display.
His face does seem made out of wax nor the gash to be painted, and it’s claimed that he has indeed never decayed in the more than 1500 years after his death.
Address: Rkt. crkva sv. Vlaha, Luža ul. 2
Walk the entire circuit around the old city from the 25 meters high city walls. Building and fortification took place between the 13th and 16th centuries.
The protection offered by this structure is astounding. Bring your camera as the different views around each bend all make for excellent photo opportunities.
Dubrovnik’s 15-century, Gothic-Renaissance-style–style Rector’s Palace (Knezev Dvor) contains the rector’s office and private chambers as well as public halls, courtrooms, and a former dungeon.
Interestingly, the rector’s term was for only one month, during which time he was confined to the palace and allowed to leave only on official republic business.
Completed in the late 15th century and built for the elected rector of the Republic of Ragusa, today Rector’s Palace is home to the Cultural History Museum, filled with paintings and coats of arms of noble families, original keys to the city gates, and important documents and artifacts showcasing the history of the republic.
Don’t miss a visit to the dungeons—and be on the lookout for carvings inscribed by previous occupants. Most sightseeing tours of Old Town Dubrovnik stop to admire Rector’s Palace and some may include a guided tour where you’ll learn about Dubrovnik’s fascinating history and marvel at Renaissance art.
Address: Ul. Pred Dvorom 3
Opening Hours: Daily 09:00–18:00
Croatia’s lovely little island of Daksa is up for sale, yet despite its historic Franciscan monastery, idyllic lighthouse, and verdant woodland, the island can’t shake the memory of the dozens of people, executed there in a post-World War II furor.
In the aftermath of WWII, rooting out remaining Nazis and Nazi sympathizers became almost an act of nationalist pride in some European countries.
The Daksa Massacre
Unfortunately for the victims of the Daksa Massacre of 1944, this anti-Nazi frenzy turned into more of an angry mob that took the lives of dozens of people without trial.
On October 18th of that year, Yugoslav partisans entered the coastal Croatian city of Dubrovnik. They arrested hundreds of citizens on suspicion of being Nazi sympathizers.
Days later, without trial or review, the partisan enforcers rowed as many as 53 (although some accounts say that number could be almost twice as much) of the accused to the small island of Daksa off the shore and shot them down.
The bodies stayed behind to rot on the island, lying where they fell. Among the dead were Dubrovnik’s priest and mayor.
While the guilt or innocence of the deceased victims was never determined, nor were the executioners ever investigated or processed.
In 2010 some bodies received proper burials, yet many in Dubrovnik still claim that the spirits of the massacre victims haunt the island. The island is now up for sale, and a cheap price, but no one has yet to put in a bid. While it’s not ghosts keeping buyers away, the memory of the massacre itself is haunting enough to dissuade new owners.
Located in the heart of Lokrum Island, just a short boat ride away from the city, lies the Benedictine Monastery of St. Mary. This historic gem dates back to the 12th century and has a fascinating history.
The monastery’s roots stretch deep into the past. First historically referenced in 1023, it stood as a beacon of spirituality and refuge for centuries. The Roman Curia even granted the miter to the Lokrum Abbott in 1149, making the monastery’s abbots esteemed prelates of the Dubrovnik Church.
Maximilian’s Summer Residence
As if that weren’t enough, the monastery complex also includes the summer residence of Maximilian of Habsburg. Explore the gardens and parks, and imagine the Habsburgs enjoying the island’s tranquility in the 19th century.
Game of Thrones
The hit series Game of Thrones fans will recognize Lokrum Island as a filming location. The monastery played a role in the show when Daenerys Targaryen was welcomed to Qarth. Imagine walking the same halls where dragons once roamed!