The Pearl Of The Adriatic (Dubrovnik)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Dubrovnik
Date:	16/11/08 (255 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots to see and do. Things tend to be close together so not too much walking.

Disadvantages: Not a lot here for young children if you have them

Dubrovnik's location and picturesque harbour setting have made it a valuable acquisition for many different European powers over the centuries. It sits on a group of 118 islands which, historically, provided cover for a number of activities. Byzantines, Venetians, Austrians, Italians, French and even Germans have laid claim to the port and the architecture and design of the city shows this.


***Where Is Dubrovnik?***

Dubrovnik is a city on the edge of the Adriatic Sea at the southern most point of Croatia. It is perched on the end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Adriatic. Across from the city are the islands of Mijet and Lastova.

Locally, the city is called 'Skladna' which is Croatian for 'harmony'. This reflects the feeling of city which is in harmony with the sea and the surrounding landscape. The aerial view that you get when you come in to land at Dubrovnik Airport is a wonderful illustration of this.

It is also known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' which is a reference to its beautiful coastal location and the way it looks so compact perched on the end of the isthmus.


***History***

The walls of the city were built in Medieval times and have never been breached by an attacking army, although there have been many attempts.

In between 1526 and 1806 Dubrovnik was actually an independent republic but then it came under the rule of the Byzantines and the invaders that followed. The prize here was the sheltered, secure port.

Much of the Old Town which surrounds the harbour was rebuilt in the seventeenth century.

After Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, it was besieged and shelled by Montenegrin and Serbian troops but since 2005 most of the damage has been repaired.


***Transport***


Dubrovnik has its own airport with a regular bus service to the bus station in the city centre. There are plenty of cheap local buses that link different parts of the city and run frequently between dawn and midnight. These are easy to use once you get the hang of them. We asked at a local café when we stopped for coffee and ended up with a list of places to visit, complete with bus times. You can also get this information at the bus station if you can find someone who speaks more than a few words of English.

***Dubrovnik Summer Festival***


The main reason we chose this time of year to travel was because we wanted to enjoy the famous Summer Festival which is held in July and August. We arrived on 9th July in time for the opening ceremony the next day.

The ceremony was amazing and we were treated to a fabulously executed firework display with accompanying music.

There were music, dance and art exhibitions every evening for a month but, unfortunately we only had 14 days to enjoy it. The Dubrovnik Orchestra seemed to be a favourite and provided lots of free, non ticket shows but it wasn't easy to get tickets for some of the soloists, folk music groups and book presentations. We did manage to go to several art exhibitions which are right up my street but didn't suit my partner, who (I quote) 'Couldn't see the point in most of it.'

I did manage to get tickets for A Midsummer Night's Dream which was amazing in Croatian. I knew the story and some of the lines so I just enjoyed the atmosphere and the scenery changes. As for my other half...well, I won't go there but it suffices to say that the 'wasn't his cup of tea either'. (Some people are such philistines.) Anyway, I enjoyed it, so that's the most important thing.

I really wished that we had been able to stay for the whole month and see John Williams and the Cuban Orchestra 'Ars Havana.' We missed the cinema and comedy too.


***Things To See***


If you enjoy looking at architecture you can find a wide range of styles here. It ranges from the 12th Century city walls through to the Renaissance style Pile Gate with its drawbridge and Gothic interior door which has a statue of St. Blaise, patron saint of Dubrovnik perched on the top.

The Onoforio Fountains (big and small) were designed and built by the Italian architect of the same name in 1438. This fountain doesn't rely on rainwater it is fed by spring water which travels 12 kilometres via an aquaduct. There are 16 intricately carved masks around the circular structure.

Just opposite this is the Franciscan Monastery which houses a 14th century pharmacy and an original, beautiful decorated cloister from the same period. Close by is Sponza Place where you will the baroque Church of Saint Blaise.

Nearby is the Rector's Palace city museum and Gundulic Square which is the centre of the old town.

These are just a few hi-lights. You will find a host of other buildings and statues to see with the same two kilometre area. Everything is quite close together.

***Other Things To Do***

If you prefer beaches, Dubrovnik caters for you too. The most popular is Banje Beach, or Porporela which is off the pier in the old time. The water is clean and warm (according to the time of year) and has that gorgeous blue and mauve glisten that we associated with warm, clean Mediterranean waters.

There are facilities for Jet Ski, speed boating, sailing and other watersports if you are that way inclined. Personally, this is of no interest to me buy my other half enjoyed the jet skiing. I have no idea how much it cost but he did say that it wasn't expensive.

Alternatively, you can take the number 5 bus to Sveti Jacov beach and enjoy the café bar or the watersports there.

There are plenty of beaches so you can quite easily find somewhere peaceful if that's what you want.

Other things to do include excursions to the islands. We went to Mijet Island to the National park and back via Mostar and Elafiti. The beaches and fruit orchards were fabulous.

Hillwalking, hiking and climbing is also available here. You can either do this by yourself, or join an organised group with a guide.

Evening entertainment includes lots of reasonably priced restaurants and bars. You can eat dinner for the equivalent of about £11. We found an Irish Bar called the Gaffe Pub and the Mirage Caffe-Bar were our favourite haunts in the evening.

There are clubs and Music Bars here too, if that's what you enjoy. The friends that we stayed with told us that they often went to Lazareti, just outside the east walls and literally drank and danced until they dropped onto the Copacabana Beach. Not our style, but they said there were lots of people, locals and visitors, doing the same thing.



***To Sum Up***


This is a fabulous, bouncing city with something for everyone. You can wander about and see the sights, lay on the beach, or simply party your holiday away. There is lots of choice when it comes to accommodation too and you can choose between one star, right through to five star luxury, or cheap private accommodation. Rooms are plentiful and easily found, so if you are travelling around Europe, you should have no difficulty finding somewhere to stay in Dubrovnik.

There is a lot to see and do here but I wouldn't recommend it for young families unless you stay in a hotel with facilities for children. It is more of an adult destination depending of course on where you stay.

Summary: Fascinating city with lots to see from Medieval to modern, beaches, great bars, good nightlife