My Fitbit says I walked 61 flights of stairs today. I know I walked every step and suspect that this is a bit of an underestimation. Dubrovnik is a city built on the side of hills/cliffs and extends down into the sea. Like many of the cities we have visited it has an old and a new city. The old city is completely surrounded by walls and, of course, we had to climb up 100++ steps (about 13 stories according to Greg) to get to the top of the wall and walk around the 2 km distance (we then had to walk down the same steps). The view of the sea and numerous islands was worth it. Just to make sure, we took the cable car up to the top of one of the hills behind the city. It is indeed beautiful with all its reddish tile roofs.
Dubrovnik, Old Town
Dubrovnik is an old city and it was easy to see why UNESCO declared Dubrovnik a World Heritage Site. The archeological work that is ongoing indicate that there was a harbour and settlement in the first century BC. It became an important trade and political center. I encourage you to read the fascinating history ( Read more).
Dubrovnik, Old Town
Even Napoleon hung out here for a couple of years. The city leaders also developed innovative structures. There was a sewage system developed in the 15th century that is still functioning as is the system for fresh water. The plan was to have enough water and supplies to last for a year if it was ever attacked. (This never happened till the recent homeland war when the city was cut off… The water system worked as designed.) They built a quarantine building (called the Lazareti).
What Molly Mouse saw in Old Town Dubrovnik
Sailors who were off at sea and returning home ,as well as merchants and visitors, were dropped off in this building and had to stay there for 40 days. If they stayed well they could come out. One of the first orphanages was here and run by the nuns ( we saw the now non-functioning door where a person would put their child on a sort of turntable without being seen and the nuns would turn it around and take the baby off).
Dubrovnik, Old Town
The people talk about the earthquake of 1667 and how it damaged the city. They highlight the statue of St. Blaisius (the saint protector of Dubrovnik) on top of St. Blaise’s church who is blessing the city with one hand and in the other holding a relief (right word?) of Dubrovnik so they knew what it looked like before the earthquake. There is a big celebration every February for him. The city indeed has a strong Christian presence with 2 monasteries and a convent. We visited the Dominican Monastery, which is filled with 15th and 16th c paintings and other church stuff.
Molly makes new friends
There is so much I could write about this small city (population about 40,000) but I will have Greg add some pictures. One of the unique features of Dubrovnik is that it is physically isolated from the rest of Croatia by a “sliver” of Bosnia Herzegovina. So to travel from Dubrovnik to other parts of Croatia, or to Dubrovnik from Croatia, one must go through at least 2 border checks either way. There are plans to build a causeway/bridge around the end of Bosnia Herzegovina along the Adriatic Sea to avoid the need for the border checks.
Its NOT a selfie
Old Town from the wall
Looking west from the mountain top
Old town from the mountain
Looks sooo… warm and sooo… beautiful! Love your “not” a selfie. BTW Your camera work is really nice! Lots of cute close-up details and great framing for the big scenes! The historical details with the current bits make it all pop! (Sorry, that’s a photog term – means it’s good!) Thanks for sharing your travel blog.