Dubrovnik Things to Do Tips by karenincalifornia

Dubrovnik is home to numerous ornate churches - mostly Catholic and one Serbian Orthodox cathedral.

The magnificent structure in this picture is the Catholic Church of St. Blasius, named after the town patron saint. It took 150 years to build this Romanesque-Gothic church, which was completed in the late 1400’s.

It was built during a time of prosperity for Dubrovnik. After Lucovik I, the King of Hungary and Croatia, liberated Dubrovnik from Venice, Dubrovnik became part of the Croato-Hungarian state. Freed from relative stagnation by Venice, the economy greatly improved.

The Church of St. Blasius has been damaged and rebuilt several times. Some of Dubrovnik’s buildings were damaged in the recent war. When we were there the church was once again undergoing renovation.

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The dome of the Dubrovnik cathedral rises majestically above the rooftops. Like many Dubrovnik structures, the original cathedral was destroyed in the 1667 earthquake. Each time the cathedral was rebuilt it got bigger.

The building of the original Cathedral on this site began in 1198. The Romanesque Cathedral was ornate, but unfortunately was completely destroyed in the 1667 earthquake. The current structure was built between 1672 and 1713 in a much simpler style.

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This picture shows the relative simplicity of the interior of the Dubrovnik Cathedral. In Dubrovnik, the attitude toward attire in the Catholic churches was much more relaxed than it was in Italy. I got away with entering the Dubrovnik churches wearing shorts and a tank top, but I could not have done this in Italy.

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Next to the Franciscan Monastery on the western side of the old town is Onofrio’s Large Fountain, erected in 1440. The original fountain had a waterworks display that was impressive. Another casualty of the 1667 earthquake, it lost most of its original functionality, although clear river water still flows from the fountain today.

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The Stradun or Placa is the main promenade of Dubrovnik. Locals and tourists alike enjoy strolling along this street. Strolling is a popular pastime in this city. Since automobile traffic is not permitted in the old town, pedestrians don’t compete with automobiles for the streets.

The shops along the Stradun are mixed. Some are tacky T shirt and coffee mug places, but there are also some very nice shops as well. Something for everyone.

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Just outside Dubrovnik, to the southeast on the way to Montenegro, is a lookout that presents a fantastic photo opportunity. My kids dutifully posed for a couple of photos with this beautiful medieval city and the old harbor in the background.

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For a small fee, you can walk all the way around the city walls that encircle the old town of Dubrovnik. For a small fee plus another small fee you can rent an audio tape and headphones. We walked along the wall, but opted to do it without headphones. The views are incredible, both of the sea and the city.

Scattered here and there are stands that sell lemonades and sodas. You may need the refreshment. You can really work up a thirst during this walk, especially on a hot summer day.

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The interior of the baroque style Jesuit Church on the east side of town is gorgeous. Beautiful paintings and frescoes line the walls and ceiling. Stunning marble columns with gold plated accents adorn the main chapel.

Like the By the Jesuits staircase leading up to it, this church was built after the 1667 earthquake.

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