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Dubrovnik, Croatia
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Dubrovnik is an old city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean, a seaport and the center of the Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its population was 43,770 in 2001. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "Pearl of the Adriatic" and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city of Dubrovnik/Ragusa was built on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages it became the only city-state in the Adriatic to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development during the 15th and 16th centuries. Furthermore, Dubrovnik was one of the centers of the development of the Croatian language and literature, home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians, physicists and other scholars.
Today Dubrovnik is the proudest feather in Croatia's tourist cap, an elite destination and one of the most beautiful towns in the Mediterranean, definitely a place to visit. Dubrovnik used to be an independent republic, surviving mostly on trade. It managed to survive many centuries, with constant threats to its territory, particularly from the mighty Ottoman Empire and Venice. As early as 19th century, it was discovered by celebrities, to get its well-deserved title of elite destination in the 20th century. The fact that nine out of Croatia's fifteen most luxurious hotels are situated in Dubrovnik shows how important it is to be seen in Dubrovnik.
It was thus visited by numerous kings, queens, princes and princesses, presidents, high diplomats, celebrities and businessmen, including, of course, the late Pope John Paul II, who was also an honorary citizen of the city of Dubrovnik.
Getting to Dubrovnik
By plane
Dubrovnik airport is located about 20 km to the south of the city. There are flights from Zagreb for approximately 60 EUR round trip including taxes. Many major airlines and charter airline has route to dubrovnik in summer but other keep coming whole year.
By train
There is no train to Dubrovnik, although you can take a train to Split and then travel by bus to Dubrovnik. The bus station in Split is located right next to the train station on the wharf.
Alternatively, one can take the train from Sarajevo or Mostar which heads to Ploce on the Croatian coast, and travel the last section (under 2 hours) by bus. The scenery is spectaclar, and the trains aren't normally crowded. Ploče is the closest railhead to Dubrovnik.
By car
The trip from Split is a beautiful journey along the coastal roads through small, quaint villages and other tourist destinations. Just know that in the summer months the trip is likely to take several hours longer than anticipated. What looks like a short trip on a map can take six hours,
By boat
Jadrolinija runs ferries down the coast from Rijeka. Calling at Split, Stari Grad, Korcula and Sobra on the way. Journey time is up to twenty hours, so consider getting a cabin. The restaurant serves up some decent food at surprisingly reasonable prices, but bear in mind that the 22% tax is not included on the menu. There is nothing in the way of entertainment, so bring some entertaining company or a good book, although the journey is scenic and it is possible to entertain oneself simply marvelling at the natural beauty of the coast.
Jadrolinija offers nightly crossings to and from Bari, Italy but either the dull engine vibration or the swaying of the boat from high winds are likely to keep you awake.
Ferries
Bus transfers to Dubrovnik
Things to see in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik was heavily bombed by the Montenegrin Navy during the war (1992 to 1995). Almost all of the damage has been covered over but if you look closely around the old town you can still see the damage from mortars in the cobblestone streets and bullet marks in the stone houses.
* Roland's Column A slender stone flag staff of the legendary knight. Also known as Orlando's Column.
* Bell Tower
* Sponza Palace, Gothic Renaissance palace, one of the few buildings that has maintained its form from before the catastrophic 1667 earthquake. Hosts historic archives. Memorial room of defenders. Open 10-22.
* Rector's Palace, Formerly the palace of the Major Council, now houses a museum dedicated to the city's history. Open 9-18., entrance : 35 kuna
* War Photo Limited. An exhibition center of war and conflict photography. Exhibits change during the season. Stunning images by world renowned photo journalists. Open 9-21
* Pile Gate, (Old town)
* Placa Stradun, (Old town). The Stradun (Placa) is the central street of the city of Dubrovnik
* Big Onofrio´s Fountain. In the entrance of the old town
* Old Port, (Old town)
* Old City Walls. 8-19. Walk on the walls around the old town, great views 50 kuna.
Churches
* Franciscan Monastery, Baroque Church housing a beautiful Romanesque cloister and the third oldest pharmacy in the world. Open 9-18. 35 kuna, students 10 kuna
* Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Supposedly the original church had been build from money donated by Richard the Lionhearted who survived shipwreck on his way home from the Third Crusade, while the current Roman Baroque cathedral dates from the 18th Century.
* Church of Saint Blaise (Crkva Svetog Vlaha). Baroque Church dedicated to the city's patron saint.
* Church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit College. Beautiful Baroque church located on a small hill within the old city.
* Dominican Monastery, This is an exceptionally valuable historic complex, which, besides its religious purpose, also represents the important artistic treasury of ancient Dubrovnik. Open 9-18.
* Church of St. Sebastian
* Serbian Orhodox Church and Museum of Icons
Beaches
Sandy beaches are rare here, the majority of them are fine shingle including the well known Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) on the island of Brac – which points a 300 metre finger into the Adriatic.
The island has a smaller sandy cove near Postira, along with several pebble bays. A gently shelving sandy beach attracts families to little Lopud island, offshore from Dubrovnik, while this region’s ‘riviera’ is a series of picturesque pebble bays and water’s edge promenades. White pebble beaches form a gleaming ribbon along the Makarska Riviera, and the ragged and indented coastline of the Istrian Riviera creates a medley of sheltered coves and rocky outcrops. Korcula Island is hemmed by 195 beaches and coves that make excellent snorkelling grounds.
Best beaches in Croatia
Nudist beaches
Food & Wine, Shopping
Served with fresh vegetables and cooked in olive oil, coastal Croatia's cuisine is based on a hugely varied range of seafood dishes. It’s said that 400 species of fish thrive in local waters. Some which appear on mouth watering menus could include bream, cuttlefish and fresh sardines, swordfish-style dentex and orhan, prstaci shellfish, langoustines like mini lobsters, and squid - often deliciously prepared with rice in its own blue-black ink. Try the brodet - a mixed fish stew with rice.
The Italian influence on Croatia extends to its inexpensive specialities with pizza and pasta dishes in many eateries. Local meat is usually produced from free-roaming outdoor reared animals. Specialities include prsut – a Parma ham equivalent, served as a starter with local cheese in oil, cevapcici - little rissoles of beef, onion and herbs, and raznjici - pork kebabs. Manistra od bobica - a dish from the inland area, is a vegetarian soup of beans and maize. Local wines include some from organic vineyards. Some of the best bottled wines are (reds) Dingac, Postup and Kastellet, (whites) Posip and Grk from Korcula island and Bogdanusa and Zlatan Otuk from Hvar. If you opt for carafe wines you’ll find the reds are more reliably good than the whites.
Lace, leather goods, embroidered table linens, wood-carvings and colourful ceramics all contribute to the variety of locally hand-crafted giftware. All the towns and even small villages have somewhere selling local crafts, from market stalls to curiosity shops.
Brilliant browsing grounds include Dubrovnik’s medieval streets and marble-paved squares, Cavtat’s old town, the atmospheric centre of ancient Rovinj, and among the cobbled
streets of Porec.
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