Dubrovnik Archives - JBRish.com

Spending several days in one area affords tourists the opportunity to gain familiarity with the geography, customs and attractions and enhances the travel experience.

Used Courtesy of Dubrovnik bed and breakfast.com

A cruise around Old Town Dubrovnik along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea provided that enriched perspective.

We boarded the boat at Old Town’s east side port.

Soon we were parallel to the southern side of Old Town’s cliff face and wall.

A more comprehensive view of the impressive wall

The trip continued westward when the Brsalje Street area came into view (see picture below). The center location with trees is one that is frequented by numerous tourists where there are reasonably priced restaurants and proximity to the Pile Gate entrance to Old Town.

Next was a closeup view of Fort Lovrijenac.

Fort Lovrijenac was the westernmost boundary of our trip this day as the boat turned to return eastward towards Lokrum Island.

If inclinations favor terra firma, the island is now a nature reserve, botanical garden and home to Fort Royal.

Kayakers along the shoreline of Lokrum Island

When unique is what you seek, then Dubrovnik has you covered there as well. Cave Beach or Betina Cave is only reachable by boat or kayak and draws a number of water sport enthusiasts.

Cave Beach

Heading back to the harbor, boaters have a magnificent panoramic view of St. John’s Fort and Old Town Harbor.

Mt. Srd rises above the northern crest of Old Town and provides amazing views.

Those interested can hike to the top of Mt. Srd via an established trail, catch the #17 bus to the top or take the cable car.

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View of Old Town from the top of Mt. Srd.

While the views of Old Town were stunning from the top of Mt. Srd, there was more to see. A museum dedicated to the Croatia Homeland War and the Croatian War for Independence Memorial are nearby.

A short walk from the memorial is Fort Imperial where damage from the siege of Dubrovnik during the Croatian War of Independence is still visible.

Continuing to walk east, a more expansive picturesque view of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic Sea comes into view.

One last panoramic view of Old Town from Mt. Srd with Lokrum Island in the background.

End Notes

** 4 Ways to get to the Top of Mount Srd

** Take the Dubrovnik Cable Car or Hike Croatia’s Mount Srd?

**Always check for the most current and updated information as availability may change.

Kayakers may rent equipment to paddle around the Pile Gate/Ft. Lovrijenac area

See the previous posts in this series:

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Pearl of the Adriatic

Old Town Dubrovnik – Above it all

Old Town Dubrovnik – The Low Down

While walking the wall above Old Town Dubrovnik is certainly quite impressive, there is much to see and appreciate at ground level.

If entering at the Pile Gate (west entrance), one of the first iconic destinations is the Large Onofrio’s Fountain designed by Onofrio della Cava and Pietro di Martino dating back to 1438.

Interestingly, the fountain still services this section of Dubrovnik by providing potable drinking water.

Each of the fountain’s 16 sections is decorated with a detailed “mask” and a spigot coming from the mouth. A number of tourists used the fountain to fill their drinking bottles.

During earthquakes and through aging, the fountain sustained damage. Although the reconstruction was not quite as ornate as the original, it is still impressive. Kučak, the fountain dog, suffered severe damage, but was finally restored in 2016.

You can read about Small Onofrio’s Fountain HERE

The approximately 300 meter long limestone main street in Old Town is referred to as the Stradun. This is where a number of main attractions can be found.

Dubrovnik’s Bell Tower is a major landmark dating back to the 15th century. It is pictured below with Mt. Srd in the background. Two metal figurines known as “The Greens,” strike the bell every day at noon alerting those in and around Luža Square.

Read more about the interesting history of the Bell Tower HERE

There are many side streets which invite tourists to stroll down to explore the variety of shops and restaurants.

Don’t forget to look up to appreciate the architecture that does not appear easily in view.

The Church of St Nicholas Bell Tower

Of course not all is old. What tourist area would not benefit from a candy store? This particular version is quite different.

Needless to say, there are also numerous gelato venues. A somewhat unique shop offered toy rubber ducks. Perhaps they have duck races from time-to-time in and around Old Town.

In a fashion similar to that of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, pigeons have found a welcome home in Old Town. There are holes in the walls (aka “bird hotels”) used to erect scaffolding when work needs to be done and the birds have turned these niches in to nesting places.

At the far end of the main Stradun, near the Ploce Gate (east side), is an entrance to the Dominican Monastery showing amazing architectural grace and beauty.

It is easy to understand why Old Town is a tourist favorite with so much to see and explore! Scroll down for a few quick takes…

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Luža Square with the Church of St Blaise

Administrative buildings, such as the Rector’s Palace show incredible detail and craftsmanship.

National and county flags decorate a number of the office buildings.

A statue of Croatian writer Marin Držić receives nose rubs from passersby.

As we departed Old Town for the last time, we noticed (among the replica cannon balls) a cat eying a pigeon only a foot away. Both bird and cat seemed pretty laid back in the moment. Apparently all was peaceful this day in Old Town.

See previous entries in this series of posts:

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Pearl of the Adriatic

Old Town Dubrovnik – Above it all

Next stop – Dubrovnik viewed from the Adriatic and above!

JBRish.com – quips & queries

A life of musings, queries, quips and quandaries

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik from the Adriatic and Mt. Srd

Old Town Dubrovnik – The Low Down