Dubrovnik

The town in the southern part of the east Adriatic coast, the seat of the county Dubrovnik and Neretva, and cultural and administrative center. It lies at the foot of Srđ (412 meters high hill), in the valley that is in the south-west closed by the elevation Lapad and small ridge with the oldest part of Dubrovnik.#$#  With 2,554 hours of sun per year, Dubrovnik has one of the highest insolation values among European towns. Rich subtropical vegetation (olives, almonds, citrus fruits, rosemary, laurel, holly oak, pine, stone pine, cypress). The most developed branches of economy are tourism and naval affairs. The famous Festival of Dubrovnik (the review of music, drama, poetry, and folklore) is held in Dubrovnik every summer, for 46 years. The Slavic name of the city was derived from the word dubrava (meaning forest), and Latin name Rausa, came from the name of the small island where the first settlement was founded (Lausa, Lave). The town was founded probably at the first half of the 7th century, after the nearby Epidaurum (present Cavtat) was destroyed in the course of the invasion of Slavs and Avars in Dalmatia. However, it seems that even before the 7th century, there was a settlement on the island of Lave. As free and independent state, the Republic of Dubrovnik flourished in the 15th and 16th century. The crises of the Mediterranean marine affairs reflects also in Dubrovnik, and centuries that came brought gradual decline. The town was also destroyed by the terrible earthquake in 1667. In 1806, it was conquered by the French, and in 1808 marshal Marmont abolished the Republic of Dubrovnik.
In the times of the independence the state government was in the hands of the aristocracy: the govrning bodies were Big and Small Council and Senate. The head of the state was the prince that was elected for period of one month. In 1333 the emperor Stefan Dušan gave Ston and Pelješac to Dubrovnik, and in the 15th century Dubrovnik bought Konavle and Cavtat, and gradually also the islands of Mljet, Lastovo, and Korčula. In a few centuries it became the strongest economic center on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. It traded both with the East and the West, it built significant war and trade fleet, and it also kept diplomatic relations with a number of states and towns. Since 1272, Dubrovnik has its own statute. In 1301 they established the medicine service, and in 1317 founded the first pharmacy. Since 1347 there is old people's home in the town, and since 1432 orphanage. The water supply system was built in 1436. Dubrovnik was also the literary center (Marin Držić, Ivan Gundulić), the center of the local painting school, and the birth place of famous scientists like Marin Gataldić, Ruđer Bošković, Benedikt Kotruljić, etc.
The old town is encircled with monumental 1,940 meters long wall. On the mainland side it is 4-6 meters wide and on the sea side it is 1.5-3 meters wide. It is on some places even 25 meters high. The wall is strengthened with three circular and twelve rectangular towers, five bastions, two corner citadels, and big fortress of St. John. The most monumental amongst towers is Minčeta, while Bokar is the oldest example of that kind in Europe. The town is also defended by two independent fortresses: Revelin, built from 1539 to 1551, and Lovrijenac on the 46 high cliff above the sea (according to the chronicles, its construction began in 1050). The town had four city gates: two that led to the harbor and two (with draw bridges) that led to the mainland. During the Austrian rule two more gates were opened in the wall. The defense walls are preserved in their original shape and they are open for visits. The entrance on the walls is possible on several places in the town. The Luža square is the center of public life since the oldest times. From that square stretches towards the west the main artery of the town inside the walls, Placa (Stradun). On the north side of the square is the Sponza Palace, built from 1516 to1522.
It served as customs office, mint, state treasury, and the office for evaluation of robe, while two mezzanines served as grain magazines. Today, it houses the archive and in summer concerts are held in the atrium. In the middle of the square is Orlando's Pillar with the figure of warrior carved in stone (the work of Antun Dubrovčan from 1418), the medieval symbol of the free trade town. On the south side of the square there is the baroque church of St. Vlaho from 1714 - 1716 built at the location of the original church that was destroyed in fire in 1706. The eastern side of Luža is closed by the Loggia of Bellringers, the Municipal Belfry, and the Main Guardhouse in front of which, in niche, there is the Small Onofrije's Fountain. The figural ornament of that fountain is work of Pietro di Martino da Milano, from the end of the first half of the 15th century. The municipality building, that was built in 1863 -1864 is right beside the building of the Main Guardhouse. The theater from the same period is also part of that complex. Beside the municipality building is the Gothic Prince's Palace, built in place of the fortified palace from the 12th or 13th century, that was destroyed in the explosion in 1435. The palace was badly damaged in the earthquake in 1667. Beside the prince's apartment, in the times of the Republic, many state offices, rooms for representation, arsenal and jails were also in the Palace. Today, on the first floor you can visit the cultural and historical departmant of the Municipal Museum. In the center is atrium with arcades and representative staircase that serves as the open stage to many concerts that are held there during the Festival. On the first floor is also the archive and library with numerous books, incunabula, manuscripts and collection. There is also the only monument to Miho Pracat from Lopud, the meritorious citizen of the Republic of Dubrovnik. Along the southern side of the Princes Palace is the passage by which, trough the Ponte Gates, you come into the town port. The eastern side of the Marin Držić Field is closed by the bishop's residence (former palace of the Sorkočević family). Following the street that goes baside it you come to the fortress of St. Ivan (present Aquarium, Naval and Ethnographic Museum). The church of Our Lady of Carmel is baroque building from the 17th century. South from the Marin Držić Field is the old town district Pustijerna with renaissance palace Skočibuha, the best preserved private building that was built before the earthquake in 1667. The west side of the Marin Držić Field is closed by the monumental baroque cathedral of Our Lady that has been built from 1679 to 1713 in the place of the old Romanesque cathedral that was destroyed in the earthquake. In the cathedral you can see the valuable paintings. The big poliptych on the main altar is the work of Titian and his assistant. 138 gold and silver reliquaries of various shapes are kept in the treasury. On the Ruđer Bošković Field is baroque Jesuit church of St. Ignacio (finished in 1725). In the belfry of that church is the oldest bell in Dubrovnik, that was cast in 1355 by Vivencije and his son Viator. Beside the church is the baroque building of former Collegium of Dubrovnik. The Music School is in the former monastery of St. Catherine. In the Ulica od Rupe (the Street of Holes) is big two-floor house called Rupe (Holes) that used to be a grain magazine. Rupe was built between 1542 and 1590 and restored in 1940. Fifteen huge wells with capacity of 1,500 tons are under the building. The collection of stone monuments of the Municipal Museum is in that building today, and folklore and other performances are held there. In the street that goes trought the Ploče Gates, the stairway with renaissance ornamented balustrade leads to the monastery and church of the Dominicans (White Friars) who came to Dubrovnik in 1225. In the church, at the exit to the street that goes trought the Ploče Gates, there is the only Romanesque portal from the 13th century in Dubrovnik. It also has a valuable treasury and monastery library with 217 manuscripts, 239 incunabula, and 16,000 books, charts, etc.
Coming down from the prijeko Street you enter the area of Jewish ghetto that existed in Dubrovnik since 1352. There is also the synagogue from the 15th century, one of the oldest preserved synagogues in Europe. On Place there are also the monastery and church of the Franciscans (the Small Brothers). The construction of that complex began in 1317, on the transition from Romanesque to Gothic style. The pulpit in the church is from the 15th century, and there is also the geave of Đivo Fran Gundulić (1588 - 1638), poet from Dubrovnik. The oldest preserved part of the whole complex is cloister. The well in the middle of the courtyard was built in the 15th century. The tools and instruments of the old monastery pharmacy (15th - 17th century) are also kept there. The pharmacy already existed in 1317. More then 30,000 books, 22 incunabula, about 1,500 manuscripts and 15 illuminated chorale books (mostly from the 15th and 16th century), are kept in the monastry library. Opposite to the main entrance to the Franciscan church is the church of St. Salvation from the 16th century built in the style of Lombardine Renaissance. On the widening of the Paskoje Miličević Field, there is the Big Onofrije's Fountain. it is a hexagonal reservoir covered with a stone dome. It is one of the endpoints of the old water supply system. The building of the fountain was finished in 1444. There is also the former monastery of St. Klara that is present cinema and restaurant. Placa was praved with stone slabs in 1468, and after the earthquake it was rebuilt. On the south exit from the town, on the Ploče Gates, is small statue of St. Vlaho, the patron saint of Dubrovnik. This statue is the oldest among many similar ones that you can see in Dubrovnik. The stone bridge leads across the defense ditch to the tower Revelin (the constrction of this tower began in 1463 and it got its present shape in 1538). There is also the external Ploče Gates, the main eastern entrance to the town. To the south, outside of the city walls, is the complex of buildings called Lazareti (Tabor) from 1590 with the small church of St. Lazar. The shelter for the leprous (that was mentioned already  in 1306) and the quarantine for the foreign ships before they enter the town was located baside that church.
On the other sife of the town are another gates: the Pile Gates. The fortress Lovrijenac on the high cliff above the sea was, according to the chronicles, founded in 1050. For the first time it was mentioned in 1301, and it was reconstructed in 1418, 1646, and 1571. On some places, walls of that fortress are even six meters wide. Today, it is one of the most attractive summer stage (e.g. for "Hamlet"). On the fortress you can read the inscription: "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro." ("Freedom is not sold for all gold in the world.")

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