Dubrovnik (Ragusa)

Its unique position on a peninsula on the foot of a limestone mountain chain surrounded by subtropical vegetation, apart from the history of the coastal city rival of Venice, makes Dubrovnik a city evocative in many aspects. The most ancient settlement is known by the name of Epidauros, that became Epidaurum in roman age. When in the 7th century it was destroyed by the Barbarians, the inhabitants emigrated towards the village of fishermen that was developed in Ragusium, also thanks to the settlement of the Slaves in the inland.

Dubrovnik (Ragusa) View Enlarge

The venitian threat remained a problem all along of the inhabitants, who for a certain period succeeded to assume the administrative autonomy.

In the XV and XVI centuries the city hit great prosperity, thanks also to the salt monopoly and to the exploitation of the mineral resources of the neighbour Bosnia. The end of the aristocratic republic was sanctioned by the Napoleon troops. Later on the city fell under Austria and to the end of the first World War, it was passed to Yugoslavia.

From the 1919 it was named as Dubrovnik, that means Qak forest heaviling.In the recent war of the Balkans, Dubrovnik had been heavily bombed with serious consequences above all on the tourism.
Important fortifications encircle the city center till today. Apart from walls 6 meters thick and 25 meters high, there are nine bastions and several additional fortifications. Two doors, Pile and Ploce, they permit, entering to the city. Close to the church of Redentore begins a beautiful walk along the walls of the city.

The church of Saint Francisco possesses an important kettledrum with a rapresentation of Mercy; to sides they are saints known as Geronimo and Giovanni Battista. Also the portal is noteworthy and famous.
The Mala Braca, Franciscan convent, were constructed in the XIV and XV centuries and contains a wonderful cloister decorated with masks, animals and plants. Infront of the Door of pile a fountain Velika Onofrijeva Cesma was erected mark of Neapoleon of cana. In the outskirts of the Clarisse is found built up towards the end of the century XIII where came the educated daughters of the nobility and where the first orphanage of Europe has instituted.

The Stradun, in ancient time swamp that divided the Slavic city from that of the Romans extends beyond 200 meters from the Door. All the palaces of the Stradun were built following the earthquake in 1667.

Prijeko is a parallel road full of premises and fashionable restaurants. Ulica or Puca is instead a road to stores, especially jewellary shops managed according to the tradition of Albanians.The Ikonski Muzej exposes precious pictures of artists bizantine, venetian and Russian of various epochs.The Market Square, where at the center we find the statue of the great poet of the city Ivan Dzivo Gundulic, it is crowded in the morning.

Also Dubrovnik possesses its Loggia square, with the column of Rolando at the center carried out in 1418 from Bonino. The Sponza palace (XVI century), richly decorated, full of customs an important place for a city with strong vocational trades. The inner courtyard being used for chamber music, while in summer the opening ceremony of the Festivals of Liberty takes place. Beside the palace the splendid Clock Tower is found with the lodge of the bell tower. In the same public square, in a hollow part of the palace one can find Great Council Small Fountain of Onofrio, built by Pietro Martin of Milan, avnated by symbolic figures. The baroque church of Sv. Vlaho, the patron of the city Saint Biagio, delimits to the south public square. A statue, in golden & silver, dedicated to the saint was sculptured in 15th century.

One of the most beautiful buildings of the city is the Palace of the Chancellor. Planned by Onofrio of the Quarry in late-gothic style, lavishly adorned by a baroque staircase that leads to the Great Council Hall.
The church of Velika Gospa was constructed in 1192. According to one legend, thanks to Elargizione of Riccardo Cuordileone of return from one crossed in order to acquit a ballot, being been escaped from a shipwreck. The earthquakes in 1671 and 1713 destroyed it completely but it was rebuilt by an Italian architect on a roman model. Remarkable artistic objects inside, can be admired: an assumption of the Vergine di Tiziano (1552) and reliquary in gold, silver and filigree of Saint Biagio.

The fortress of Saint Giovanni John today accommodates three museums: the Aquarius, the Etnographic and the Nanal museum.
The Jesuit church of Saint Ignazio is a baroque construction of the 18th century. It is work of Andrew Sink. From the side rises the Collegium Ragusianum where many renowned citizens have received their own education. The Rupe are ancient granaries that preserve at a constant temperature about 1.5 tons of cereals.

The Dominican convent of Bijeli Fratri is one of the most expressive monuments of Dubrovnik, from the gothic renaissance cloister with the beautiful Capital Hall and Treasure of the church.The gate of Ploce crate protected by a 14th century tower and flanked by the fortress of Revelin, on which concerts and folk loristic shows take place today.

The other great city fortress was Lovrijenac, placed on a precipice of 40 meters at a strategic point. During the festival of the Liberty, theatre performances are carried out.From the Srdj mountain (419 meters) a splendid panorama on top of the old city and the Adriatic sea is enjoyed.