Dubrovnik

DUBROVNIK is a jewel of the Adriatic Coast. This world famous tourist destination is located in southern Dalmatia, at the foot of Srd Mountain. It has a rich political and cultural heritage, and has been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Due to its beauties and extensive tourist offer, Dubrovnik is undoubtedly one of the most attractive destinations on the Mediterranean.

The ancient town centre was connected with the suburban zone on the other side of the valley by levelling and filling up of a marshy valley between the Gruz Bay in the north and Stari Porto (Old Port) in the south, as well as by the construction of the Placa (Stradun). Stradun has therefore become the centre of the town and its main street. It connects two opposite town gates the Ploce Gate in the east and the Pile Gate in the west.

Dubrovnik offers individual choice among numerous museums (Dubrovnik Museum, Maritime Museum, museum of the Franciscan monastery, museum of the Dominican monastery) and galleries, which contain the jewels of Croatian heritage. The Dubrovnik Museum in the Duke's Palace keeps 15,500 exhibits in its cultural and historical department. A collection of furniture from the 17th-19th century, uniforms of dukes and councillors, aristocratic garments and many other items are exhibited in the authentic halls of the palace. The Maritime Museum (situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan) has a number exhibits on a permanent display, related to the maritime affairs of Dubrovnik and Croatia on the whole, with a particular emphasis on the history of the Dubrovnik Republic. The museum of the Franciscan monastery keeps all inventories of the old pharmacy, as well as the works of Dubrovnik jewel-lers, painters and embroiders. The museum of the Dominican monastery exhibits valuable examples of Dubrovnik painting from the 15th and the 16th centuries, as well as sculptures, jewellery, manuscripts, incunabula and notes (music). The treasury of the Dubrovnik cathedral keeps the relics of St. Blaise, patron of Dubrovnik, and numerous paintings and works of art. The Rupe Ethnographical Museum presents traditional occupations and the rural architecture of the region of Dubrovnik, national costumes and hand-made textiles. Worth visiting is also the Aquarium of the Institute of Biology situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan.

Dubrovnik has a number of churches, monasteries and hotels scattered all over the town. Its coastal belt is adorned with several marinas, piers and promenades. Because of a magnificent view on the mediaeval Dubrovnik, a walk along the town ramparts is a must for each visitor. Most of the hotels are situated on the Lapad peninsula and in the area of Ploce, southeast of the old town. The hotel complex Dubrava - Babin Kuk on Lapad has all features of a small town. It has a shopping centre, a bank, an out-patient department, many restaurants and cafés, and a street called the "New Stradun", which connects all hotels.

A great number of Dubrovnik restaurants and taverns offer delicious specialities of local and international cuisine. Sports and recreational facilities include playgrounds, courts and requisites for all sports in the sea and on the ground, from tennis and table tennis to sailing and yachting. There are also several gyms and fitness centres with swimming pools, saunas, massage, aerobics, solarium, box gyms, etc.

Very famous are also Dubrovnik carnival festivities - so-called Dubrovnik "karnevo” held ever since the early Middle Ages, when they were brought from the neighbouring Italy. Another important event is the Feast Day of St. Blaise, also the Day of Dubrovnik (3rd of February). The feast takes place for the whole week, including religious ceremonies, a procession through the town, concerts, sports events, entertainment and carnival programmes. The most famous festival is Dubrovnik Summer Festival, which presents a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance on more than 70 open - air venues over 47 days in summer each year.

The climate of Dubrovnik is characterised by warm and dry summers and mild winters. The average air temperature in the coldest month (February) is 4.6 °C and in the warmest month (August) 26.2 °C. Dubrovnik is one of the sunniest towns of southern Europe with its 2,554 hours of sunshine a year.

Dubrovnik has a town port, the port of Gruz and a marina. The old town port is protected by the Porporela breakwater. Yachts drawing up to 3 m may dock in it. Smaller ships are docked in the cove of Gornja Bocina. Dubrovnik Marina is located in Komolac, in the interior part of Rijeka Dubrovacka, which is situated about 4 km from the entrance to the port of Gruz. In the vicinity of Dubrovnik, in the gorge of the Ombla river, is Miho Pracat ACI Marina; it has 450 berths in the sea and 250 places on the land. Dubrovnik International Airport is located 20 km south from the city centre in the town of Cilipi.