Dubrovnik Travel Guide
Dubrovnik is a glorious old city and Croatia's leading tourist centre frequented by tourists and celebrities. Its exceptional charm, favourable climate, unpolluted sea and a rich entertainment and recreation offer will make your Dubrovnik travel really unforgettable. Positioned on the Adriatic coast of South Dalmatia, this city covers the area of 143 km² and has a population of around 45 thousand people.
As a place of enormous international attraction, Dubrovnik has its own airport (20 km away from the Old Town), a sea harbour and a bus terminal at the Port Gruz (3 km away), the only railway station is at Ploce (2 km away). The international and local bus lines ensure a convenient Dubrovnik travel from Rijeka (12 hours), Zagreb (11 hours), Zadar (8 hours), Split (4 hours), Korcula and Orebic (3 hours). The majority of mainland and island towns in Croatia are connected to Dubrovnik by the Jadrolinija ferry service.
Dubrovnik's spectacular architecture has been protected by the UNESCO World Heritage program since 1979. The lively major streets of Stradun and Prijeko forking into many cobbled side streets of the Old Town's pedestrian area are undoubtedly worth exploring at length. Stretching beyond the walled Old Town are the picturesque districts of Ploce and Lapad where you can find beautiful waterfront promenades, sunlit bays with gorgeous beaches and pine woods for a relaxing Dubrovnik travel.
Dubrovnik history
The historical heritage of Dubrovnik is closely connected with that of the Republic of Dubrovnik or Ragusa as it was officially named until 1918. The city's glorious past was grounded on maritime commerce, ingenious diplomacy and freedom supremacy.
Ragusa was formed in the 11th century as a result of two settlements merging, both founded in the 7th century, that of Lausa established by the fugitives from the ancient Epidaurus and a Slavic township of Dubrovnik. The initial Byzantine tutelage was discontinued in 1205 by Venice that ruled over the Republic up to 1358 when it regained its independence. From that time onward Ragusa grew into an affluent Mediterranean city-state and expanded its territory over the Peljesac Peninsula and the adjacent islands.
The Mediterranean maritime crisis and the ruinous earthquake of 1667 undermined its economy. In 1806 it was occupied by Napoleon's Army and dissolved two years later to become part of Austria. In 1918 it was joined to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes that was later renamed to Yugoslavia. After Croatia declared its independence in 1991 Dubrovnik was continually bombarded during a 7-month siege. Nowadays the city has retrieved its former magnificence, making people from all around the world to anticipate an unforgettable Dubrovnik travel.
As a multipurpose tourist destination, Dubrovnik offers a wide range of opportunities:
- The major Dubrovnik attractions include numberless monumental buildings encompassed by the majestic ramparts.
- Dubrovnik festivals and cultural events are a staggering success with the public every year.
- Dubrovnik restaurants and cafe bars serve natural traditional food, both healthy and tasty.
- The nightlife in Dubrovnik gives a peculiar edge and some special thrill to the daytime adventures.
- Dubrovnik beaches and warm waters encourage sunbathers to make a Dubrovnik travel as early as in April.
- Dubrovnik sports facilities for amateur and professional sports are among the best on the Adriatic.