Had an 08:30 departure from idyllic Korcula as we were picked up at our accommodation by car and taken to the harbor for a 20 minute boat ride to the mainland and then a 2 hour minibus ride to our apartment located just outside Dubrovnik's Old Town. It was too early to check into our apartment as the cleaning crew was still there but we were able to drop of our luggage and go explore for a couple of hours. As it was hot and sunny, we checked out a couple of nearby beaches and chose one to enjoy a picnic lunch that Rita put together prior to our departure from Korcula. After lunch it was off to look for a grocery store and pick up some provisions and lug them back to our apartment. We unpacked, changed and headed out to see a bit of Old Town Dubrovnik.
Backed by rugged mountains Dubrovnik juts out into the sea, ringed by its thick medieval walls curving around a tiny harbor making it one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities and certainly deserving of its nickname: Pearl of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik's origins are a bit murky but everyone agrees that the city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century and these walls were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style. Today, many claim that Dubrovnik's Baroque core is the most attractive and well-preserved of any European city. Any new work is strictly controlled to maintain the integrity of the buildings heritage. In 1358 Dubrovnik received its freedom from Venice and became a rich and powerful independent republic for almost 500 years. They achieved their independence not from military might but from cold, hard cash which they paid first to Venice then Hungary and Ottoman Empires. During the 15th and 16th centuries it was a major maritime power and had the third largest navy in the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik finally lost its independence in 1808 when Napoleon conquered the Adriatic it became a French possession. In 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but this did not save it from being the only coastal city to be targeted during the Croatian war for Independence with Yugoslavia. After eight months of bombing, Dubrovnik was liberated by the Croatian army. More than two-thirds of the cities buildings had been damaged and over 300 Dubrovnik citizens lost their lives. The Old Town has been painsakingly repaired and the only physical reminders of the war are thousands of new, bright orange roof tiles.
St. Jakob beach about a 25 minute walk from Old Town which is in the background. Very steep steps take you down to the small, gentle cove where we enjoyed our delicious picnic lunch
Banje Beach is a very popular sunbathing and swimming spot just outside the walls of Old Town
Rita on our balcony with Old Town in the background. It's about a 15 minute walk to the entry gate
Backed by rugged mountains Dubrovnik juts out into the sea, ringed by its thick medieval walls curving around a tiny harbor making it one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities and certainly deserving of its nickname: Pearl of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik's origins are a bit murky but everyone agrees that the city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century and these walls were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style. Today, many claim that Dubrovnik's Baroque core is the most attractive and well-preserved of any European city. Any new work is strictly controlled to maintain the integrity of the buildings heritage. In 1358 Dubrovnik received its freedom from Venice and became a rich and powerful independent republic for almost 500 years. They achieved their independence not from military might but from cold, hard cash which they paid first to Venice then Hungary and Ottoman Empires. During the 15th and 16th centuries it was a major maritime power and had the third largest navy in the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik finally lost its independence in 1808 when Napoleon conquered the Adriatic it became a French possession. In 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but this did not save it from being the only coastal city to be targeted during the Croatian war for Independence with Yugoslavia. After eight months of bombing, Dubrovnik was liberated by the Croatian army. More than two-thirds of the cities buildings had been damaged and over 300 Dubrovnik citizens lost their lives. The Old Town has been painsakingly repaired and the only physical reminders of the war are thousands of new, bright orange roof tiles.
About to enjoy a delicious 100% Dalmatian grown, baked and brewed dinner on our balcony
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