The pearl of Croatia is Dubrovnik. The city's attractions

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Dubrovnik is considered the most beautiful city in Croatia and one of the most delightful in Europe. This is a visiting card of Croatia, its pearl. In local advertising booklets about Dubrovnik they write "The One and Only". Bernard Shaw said that heaven on earth should be sought by going to Dubrovnik. The sights of the city begin with giant protective walls that protected it from invaders. This man-made height offers amazing views of the city and its surroundings.

Climate

Tourists come to Dubrovnik all year round. The attractions of the resort are that there are 2554 hours of sunshine per year, and the average annual temperature is 17 degrees. In winter, the temperature does not drop below zero, and snow is a rarity here.

Protective walls

Defensive fortifications stretched for 1.4 kilometers. The width of the walls is 1.5 - 6 meters, the height is up to 22 meters. Walking along these walls is very popular with tourists.

Pile Gate

Entrance to the city lies through the Pile gate. Previously, they were the only entrance to the city from the land. Above the gate stands a statue of the city's patron saint, St. Vlach. Immediately outside the gate, the main street of the Old Town, Stradun Street, begins. This street is always crowded: local residents and guests of the city come here for a walk. Street musicians and dance groups perform here.

Old City

Croatia, Dubrovnik is listed in the register of UNESCO World Treasures. Attractions are located in the Old Town. Here you can admire the Church of St. Vlach, the Prince's Palace, the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, the fountains of the popular Italian architect Onofrio de La Cavi, the oldest synagogue in Europe, the Maritime Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Art Gallery.

Elafiti Islands

12 The Elaphite Islands surround Dubrovnik. The sights of the islands are the Lokrum Botanical Garden, the Blue Grotto and the Bay of Joy. Locals and tourists love to relax here.

Onofrio's Big Fountain

Near the Pile Gate there is a platform on which there is a large Onofrio's fountain, which symbolizes Dubrovnik. The sights of the fountain are its taps in the form of mouths of stone masks. According to legend, if you drink water from each jet and make a wish, it will inevitably come true.

Church of St. Vlach

The Church of St. Vlach was built in honor ofpatron of the city. Near its altar stands a silver sculpture of St. Vlach holding a model of the city. The sculpture is surrounded by stone angels.

Temple and Monastery of the Franciscans

The entrance to the Franciscan church is decorated with a portal depicting the Mother of God holding the body of Jesus on her knees. Nearby are images of St. Jerome, John the Baptist and God the Father. The temple in its design perfectly combines Romanesque and Gothic styles. Behind the temple is a monastery, the courtyard of which is surrounded by galleries with columns. The columns are decorated with plant and animal motifs, human faces and geometric elements. In the courtyard, the monks bred medicinal herbs, made medicines from them and sold them in the local pharmacy. Now the pharmacy sells medicines, but not based on local herbs. The monastery library contains over 30,000 ancient works. In the museum of the monastery you can admire the treasures of the Franciscans.

Dominican Church and Convent

The Vukovar Cross, a gift from the Pope, is kept in the church. In the monastery museum you can admire paintings by local artists, gold items, finely crafted silver crosses and ship-shaped silverware.

Fortress of Saint John

The fortress dedicated to Saint John was built to protect the port. Now its roof is used as a viewing terrace. The fortress building houses an aquarium and a museum, which is famous for its exhibits telling about the development of the fleet. Here you can see the ship models,maps and navigation tools. And the inhabitants of the Adriatic Sea live in the aquarium.