Dubrovnik-the Pearl of the Adriatic
Welcome
Dubrovnik is the proudest feather in Croatia's tourist cap, an elite destination and one of the most beautiful towns in the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik is steeped in stunning architecture and sculptural detail, and boasts spectacular churches, monasteries, museums, and fountains. History is present in the entire city, which is both a museum and a picturesque stage where cultural heritage and contemporary life meet. All houses and monuments have a unique value. The Old City is encompassed by medieval walls, which have been preserved in their original form and opened for visitors as Dubrovnik’s major attraction. In 1979 the City was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
Dubrovnik is a remarkably well-preserved example of a late-medieval walled city, with a regular street layout. Among the outstanding medieval, Renaissance and Baroque monuments within the magnificent fortifications and the monumental gates to the city are the Town Hall (now the Rector's Palace), dating from the 11th century; the Franciscan Monastery, with its imposing church; the extensive Dominican Monastery; the cathedral, the customs house (Sponza), the eclectic appearance of which reveals the fact that it is the work of several hands over many years; and a number of other Baroque churches, such as that of St Blaise (patron saint of the city).
Dubrovnik is a place of gastronomic delight, and its life in the open air and Mediterranean style are completed with rich and varied culinary choice – the recipes from the past when time was going by more slowly. Oysters (ostrea edulis) are cultivated in a natural way, and the taste of the sea and sea delicacies has not changed for centuries. During one of the oldest and most prestigious events, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the city palaces, churches and squares turn into unique stages on which musical, theatrical and folklore programmes are presented in July and August.