Dubrovnik, often referred as Ëthe Pearl of the AdriaticË, has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In the recent years it has often been presented on the front pages of many prestigious world magazines, as well as on the top of the scape as one of the most beautiful cities of the world. If you decide to visit this magical Mediterranean city, you should have a plan on which sights to visit because although Dubrovnik is a small town, it is truly a living museum.
If you visit at the peak of summer season, it is likely you will meat few internationally famous celebrities, but it is also certain you will not visit all there is to see because streets will be crowded during day and large part of night, so the traffic would be slowed down as much as it could be. But, fortunately, Dubrovnik is as much as beautiful during the rest of the year. Our recommendation is to pay a visit during spring break or in October, when the temperatures are just right for sightseeing - not to hot, not to cold.
Whole Old Town of Dubrovnik is made into a pedestrian zone, as it literally has historical monuments and buildings on every step.
Begin the sightseeing through the Old Town's western entrance where it starts with the Large Onofrios Fountain, a polygonal fountain with 16 stone-carved maskerons out of which runs the water.
Dubrovnik biggest and most famous street in the Old Town is Stradun, often called Placa. Take a walk along the shining paving stones of Stradun and perhaps stop for a coffee, after a lunch in nearby tavern. Today, Stradun is also the shopping centre and venue of major events.
Besides Stradun, there are many other smaller streets worth seeing. Among favourite ones is Prijeko street, parallel with the Placa, which is a home to many quality restaurants and taverns, offering attractive local delicacies.
Although it is less known, because of the large number of open-air historical sights, Dubrovnik also has quality galleries and museums. Dubrovnik Art Gallery organizes an international exhibition every year and local museum offer a portion of facts and legends about the city, along with the preserved artifacts collected in the Dubrovnik area, dating from prehistoric period to the not so remote Croatian War of Independence, which took place in the early 1990’s. There, you will get all the answers about Dubrovnik’s history, trade, seafaring and much more. Besides main museums, like Cultural Historical Museum or Rupe Ethnographic Museum, there are also museums like Maritime Museum, Franciscan or Dominican Monastery Museum.
Old Town is a home to worlds oldest active Sephardic Synagogue and the second oldest synagogue in Europe. The Synagogue houses ceremonial objects from the 16th-18th centuries. It is located in the Žudioska Street (meaning ‘Jewish'). A door that once stood at the beginning of the street from Stradun formed the quarter reserved for Jews only.
Besides Synagogue, there are also many other sacral objects in Dubrovnik, which, back in the tough, old days, were the only shelter and solace for the threatened citizens of Dubrovnik. Today, they are a real treasure of the historic, architectural and artistic heritage. There is the intriguing Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with its own treasury, the Franciscan Monastery-home of the richest library in the City, magnificent Church of St. Blaise-the patron saint of Dubrovnik, Church of St. Ignatius-Jesuit Church which is the most beautiful baroque complex in Dubrovnik, and much more.
On every corner you can buy typical Dubrovnik souvenirs like traditional filigree jewelry or a bronze statuette of St. Blaise to always remind you of this exciting visit.
And last but certainly not least-Dubrovnik’s world famous stone-walls! The 1940 meter long walls are preserved in their original form are open for visitors. They are considered to be amongst the great fortification systems of the Middle Ages, as they were never penetrated by a hostile army. The Walls are also the worlds' second most frequented open-air museum, which have been declared UNESCO’s world heritage site in 1979.
Aside being a living monument of history, Dubrovnik is also major cultural centre, especially during summer, when many events and festivals are held there. But, whenever you come there, it will always be a city that charms.
