English
Dubrovnik is a city that charms everyone who visits it, because of its magnificent walled area, which gives the holiday makers a sense of what it once was a very important Adriatic port. Throughout the centuries, the city has been shaping a strong personality, which despite wars and a great earthquake, it remains as one of the most beautiful cities on the Mediterranean coast. Besides in 1979, Dubrovnik was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a guarantee that you are going to enjoy your next vacations on a truly amazing place.
Although this Croatian coast is not a best-kept holiday destination anymore, it is a great place to come with family and friends and have a fantastic time without spending too much. However I guarantee you, this is not going to last for long, so if you want to enjoy all the beauty of the Mediterranean coast on the cheap, you better hurry and start planning your trip already.
Photo: Łukasz Bolikowski
So in order to make the most out of Dubrovnik, here are some hotspots in the city that you’ll want to visit:
St. John Fortress
St. John Fortress, also called the Mulo tower (which means “spring”), was built to protect the port of the city. Although the fortress was built during the 14th century, it has been subsequently amended on several occasions. In this building, you will find the maritime museum, which displays the navigation and fishing activities of the city from medieval times through models, charts and naval and marine instruments. Right there you’ll also find the city aquarium, which displays samples of the maritime fauna that inhabit the waters of the Adriatic and other seas nearby. This is a place you can’t miss, especially if you come with children.
Sponza Palace
Sponza Palace, is one of the most beautiful constructions of the city, which despite wars and natural disasters, remains intact. Its architectural style is very similar to the one of the Renaissance palaces of Venice. Before the great earthquake of 1667, many buildings in the city had a very similar look. This palace has hosted public institutions such as customs, Treasure house, and the archives of the city. This is an architectural gem to the delight of lovers of old buildings.
The Church of St. Blaise (Sveti Vlaho)
The Church of St. Blaise houses the remains of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik. This is a baroque building constructed during the early 18th century, after the earthquake of 1667, while replacing a former 14th century Romanesque church. This sacred construction was built based on the Church of St. Maurice in Venice.
Finally, for the folks who are always chasing the best summer festivals in the world, can’t miss the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, which is the oldest cultural festival in Europe. This event gathers music, dance, poetry, painting and theater. From the 10th of July to the 25th of August you’ll be able to see hundreds of shows that will be performed in different representative places of the city as palaces, churches, squares and streets. One of the most unique shows is the play Hamlet by Shakespeare, which is always performed within the walls of the fortress near the Pile Gate.
Rent holiday apartments in Dubrovnik and enjoy the best of the city while it is still cheap.
