If want to see heaven on earth, come visit Dubrovnik.
The phrase is from George Bernard Shaw, Nobel-Prize-winning, Irish playwright and co-founder of the London School of Economics. Check the text below and see if you agree with him.
The city of Dubrovnik, considered the pearl of the Adriatic, is located in the extreme south of Dalmatia, at the foot of the mountain of St. Sergius. Dubrovnik enchants for its unusual beauty that mixes medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with the beautiful landscape of the Adriatic.
The mixture of military, religious and civil architectures make Dubrovnik an unforgettable destination.
The imposing city remain well preserved its walls that in the past were essential for protection, but now are only historical memories with hundreds of bars, shops, houses and restaurants. The walled city of Dubrovnik since 1979 earned the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entering the walls of the old medieval city most of the attractions are located on Stradun, a large sidewalk with cafes, restaurants, shops, several monuments and historic buildings. There you can visit the Bell Tower, the Rector’s Palace, Sponza’s Palace and the Big Onofrio’s Fountain. When leaving towards the sea you can see the old port and the Fort Lovrijenac. Getting lost in the old walls is surely one of the best way to discover the medieval city.
Stradun in the medieval city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. In front the Bell Tower.
If you want to check out the city as it appears in most of the postcards, you can use the Dubrovnik Cable Car. At the top there is a small shop and a restaurant.
Those looking for traditional items to take home will like to know that the city has many artisans. Some of the typical crafts of the region are the tablecloths and linens, all handmade; there is also the famous ties, which are a Croatian creation; and dolls dressed in the traditional costume of the region.
The Franciscan Monastery, near the Big Onofrio’s Fountain, runs the oldest pharmacy in Europe and there you can find creams and other products made with ancient recipes. Wine, chocolates and national oil can also be found throughout the Stradun or in the markets outside of the Old Town.
Game of Thrones
Wander through walls of Dubrovnik is one of the best ways to visit the medieval city.
For anyone who is a fan of the HBO series, Dubrovnik will be a real adventure. Several real locations of the medieval town were used to make George RR Martin’s ideas real in the small screen. The ancient city appears as King’s Landing, ‘Qarth’, among others fictional locations. The Fort Lovrijenac and the walls also appear in various scenes and can be visited. Ten minutes by boat you can visit the island of Lokrum and for the most enthusiastic fans there is also a possibility of tour that brings you to the Arboretum Trsteno, locations used to record the serie.
To complete the Game of Thrones tour in Croatia, you can also visit the Diocletian’s Palace and Klis Fortress, in Split and the ancient town of Šibenik.
So, what do you think, the Irish Bernard Shaw was right?
Come get lost in Dubrovnik with us!