Travel with us to the beautiful old city of Dubrovnik on the southern Adriatic Sea coast, it is usually regarded as the most picturesque city on the Dalmatian coast and is referred to as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.”
There are many beautiful places in the world, however the people of Dubrovnik claim their city to be the most beautiful. A warm southern climate, spacious blue skies, emerald green and dark blue crystal-clear sea touching the rocky shore and spilling into numerous coves and bays, onto sandy beaches and steep reefs decorated with the lushest Mediterranean and subtropical flora.
Dubrovnik occupies a promontory jutting into the sea under the bare limestone mass of Mount Srdj. The port’s sea fortifications rise directly from the water’s edge, and the massive round tower (completed 1464) of the Minc̆eta Fortress dominates the city on the landward side. The old city of Dubrovnik was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
Cityscape. Dubrovnik. Croatia. Credit: Enrico Bottino/REDA/Universal Images Group
The Big Fountain of Onofrio, The old city of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Credit: Education Images/Universal Images Group
Dubrovnik: Church of Saint Blaise and Luza Square. Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Dalmatia region. Croatia. Credit: Gabriele Prato/ClickAlps/RED/Universal Images Group
Views of the Old Town of Dubrovnik from above. Credit: VW PICS/Universal Images Group
People relaxing on the porporela at Dubrovnik. Credit: Dominic Jones/Loop Images/Universal Images Group
Illuminated Stone Alley at Dusk, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Credit: Eric Schwortz/Glasshouse Images/Universal Images Group
Cafe and City Bell Tower on Stradun, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Entrance to the Sponza Palace in Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
Tourists on Dubrovnik City Walls, with views of Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik Old Town, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Photo of Dubrovnik cable car and Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik Old Town, Dalmatian Coast, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Tourists at a restaurant outside Dubrovnik Cathedral, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Sea Kayaking in Dubrovnik, tourists kayak past Buza Bar and Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Photo of Dubrovnik Harbor at sunset in Dubrovnik Old Town, Dalmatian Coast, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Detail of stone carving in the Franciscan Monastery, Stradun, Dubrovnik Old Town, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Photo of St Blaise Church and Dubrovnik City Bell Tower on Stradun, the main street in Dubrovnik Old Town at night, Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Photo of Fort Lovrijenac, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group
Decorated cloisters of the Franciscan Monastery, Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
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The walls were erected by the 16th century and run a course of about 6,365 feet (1,940 metres) in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 80 feet (25 metres). Along its course and within the walls lie several towers and fortresses, as well as numerous historic monuments.
The basic city plan dates from 1292, when the port was rebuilt following a fire. The Stradun, or main street, with beautiful late-Renaissance houses on each side, runs along a valley that, until 1272, was a marshy channel dividing the Latin island of Ragusa from the forest settlement of Dubrovnik. No motor vehicles are allowed inside the walls, and, except for the Stradun, the old city is a maze of picturesque narrow streets, many of them steep and twisting.
View of Old Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
View from the city walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
Fort Lawrence viewed from Fort Bokar in Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
Medieval city walls. ramparts of the Old Town, historic city centre of Dubrovnik along the Adriatic Sea, southern Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
A group of tourists walking atop the city walls of Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
View of Placa, the main street of Old Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
View over the Adriatic Sea, medieval Minčeta Tower and city walls of the Old Town, historic city centre of Dubrovnik, southern Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
The walls and harbour of Dubrovnik. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
Cloisters of the Franciscan Monastery in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
The historic walls and harbour of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Credit: Planet One Images/Universal Images Group
The Rector’s Palace with the Sponza Palace in the background in the historic center of Dubrovnik, built by the Venetians, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
Bell tower and tourists shopping in Stradun. Placa, main street in the Old Town, historic city centre of Dubrovnik, southern Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
Alley along the medieval city walls of the Old Town, historic city centre of Dubrovnik, southern Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
15th century Large Tower of the Governor of the Old Town along the Adriatic Sea on the island Korčula, Dalmatia, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
Bell tower and domes of Dubrovnik Cathedral and St Blaise’s church in the Old Town, historic city centre of Dubrovnik, southern Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
View over houses and the Cathedral of St. Mark in the Old Town Korčula on the island Korčula in the Adriatic Sea, Dalmatia, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
City walls and tourists entering the Pile Gate, main entrance to the Old Town, historic city centre of Dubrovnik, southern Dalmatia, Croatia. Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group
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Under the mild Mediterranean climate, Dubrovnik is bathed in a sea of sun, blossoms and ripe orange and lemon tree fruit, even in the winter months. There are more than 250 sunny days per year, with the average temperatures being 10°C in winter and 26°C in summer. The average summer sea temperature is about 21°C. The swimming season in the sea begins as early as April, sometimes even earlier, and lasts until late October.
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