World City Guide

Key Attractions

Key Attractions
City Walls
These rugged stone walls loop up around the city skirting the harsh limestone crags to the north and then pass the old port before scooping back around the coast where the Adriatic laps against its voluminous bastions. It is possible to walk around in an hour, but it is better to linger and take one of the audio tours by picking up a headset at the ticket counters on the way up to the walls.

The Stradun
Dubrovnik’s main thoroughfare (also known as the Placa) spreads right through the pedestrianised heart of the old city. Formed when the channel that separated Ragusa from the mainland was filled in during the 12th century, today the thoroughfare bustles with tourists during the summer and boasts a wealth of cafes, bars, shops and restaurants.

Franciscan Monastery
This monastery complex lies just off the Stradun – make sure to come early if a cruise ship is in town to avoid the crowds. The single nave Church of St Francis is a large and cool space (a welcome escape from the crowds and heat in summer), and the Monastery Museum is worth venturing into with a range of exhibits taken from the monastery and its old fourteenth century pharmacist.

Sponza Palace
Look out for the ‘We are forbidden to cheat and use false measures, and when I weigh goods, God weighs me,’ motto which reveals much about one of the former role of this graceful palace on the Stradun. The 14th-century palace used to function as Ragusa’s customs house and mint, but today it is home to the State Archives and a small museum dedicated to the locals who died fighting for the city in the 1991-1992 siege.

Rector’s Palace
Just a short stroll off the Stradun is the former home of the city’s old rector. Unlike many despots of the time, the rector did not outgrow his boots in democratic Dubrovnik and he had a limited term in office, during which he was largely banned from leaving the palace except on official business. Today the courtyard is a venue for traditional dancing and music in summer, and the complex also houses a decent museum.