Dubrovnik - Croatia
Dubrovnik - Everything old is new again
Dubrovnik is known by many names, “the pearl of the Adriatic”, “the city of stone and light”, “the walled city”. Sitting on Croatia’s southern coast, Dubrovnik is the perfect port of call for any European adventure.
For most, initiation to Dubrovnik’s old city begins by crossing the drawbridge and passing through the Pile Gate. Once inside the city’s walls, visitors are greeted by 16 stone faces artistically carved onto the multifaceted fountain of Onofrio. From this famous meeting place runs the city’s main pedestrian boulevard, abuzz with the new discovery of an old city. At the end of this street are prominent Baroque-style buildings, including the Dubrovnik Cathedral.
Once acquainted with the main streets, venture aimlessly down cobblestone alleyways. Stop for coffee, indulge in a gelato and watch the world go by. Just make sure to dodge the precipitating pigeons. Above the streets and encircling the city are monumental battlements, 25-metre high defensive walls punctuated by towers. Open to the paying public, the city walls provide a two kilometre walkway that afford uninterrupted views out to sea and over the old town.
The city is itself a museum, full of museums. Whether your interest is in cultural or maritime history, ethnography or archeology, there’s a world-class collection to match it. The cultural museum is housed within Rector’s Palace, once the seat of power to the Republic and a curious mix of building styles, due to a series of facelifts. Alternatively, take a ‘Game of Thrones Tour’ to learn of the making of fiction in a city made of history.
The coastal city has a multitude of beaches, bays and coves to sprawl a towel. A local favourite, Sveti Jakov has all the amenities with views of the iconic city. Buza Beach is more a rocky outcrop that protrudes into the sea from the base of the city’s walls, a great platform to jump straight in. Walk west to Bellevue Beach, a pebbly cove sheltered by high cliffs that provide some welcome reprieve from the scorching summer sun. All promise the picture perfect images that Croatia is so well known for.
Dubrovnik is beautiful from all angles but the finest of them all is atop Srđ Hill. Cable cars depart from the old town and make quick work of the ascent. Alternatively, the exposed and rocky hiking trail zig zags its way up past the stations of the cross. The hill top restaurant and bar are particularly popular at sunset, as is the rolling hillside that provides a quiet place of contemplation. At the peak is a Napoleonic fortress, that now houses a museum retelling its sobering history as the first line of defence during the country’s war for independence in 1991.
The light and shade of Dubrovnik’s buildings, history and natural beauty invigorates and relieves.
Note: Timing is everything when it comes to making the most of a visit to Dubrovnik. The warmer months (March to October) are best to take advantage of the city’s natural beauty and atmosphere. But be aware that the city can become overwhelmingly busy and expensive during the peak season of July and August. Many consider the ideal time to visit to be September and October, when temperatures aren't stifling hot yet most of the cruise ships have abandoned the port. The water remains warm for these two months, so it's a great time to dip into the sea rather than your savings.
