Dubrovnik

The stones of Dubrovnik tell a 13-century-long tale of survival. The Roman city of Ragusa developed into a city-state encompassing the coast as far south as the Bay of Kotor, the Pelješac Peninsula and nearby islands including Mljet and Lastovo. On the walls of Korèula Town, antique cannons still aim across a narrow channel at the village of Orebiæ, on Peljesaè. That’s because Korèula was an outpost of Dubrovnik’s rival, the Republic of Venice. Legend has it that St. Blaise appeared in a vision in 971 to warn Dubrovnik of an impending Venetian invasion. He’s been revered here ever since. But it’s appropriate that he’s the saint who is celebrated with the blessing of throats. After all, Dubrovnik remained independent and prosperous for more than a millennium on its citizens’ powers of negotiation. Now Dubrovnik has thrown open its gates to an annual invasion of thousands of visitors who come to walk its ancient streets, to see the wealth the city amassed through centuries of trade, and to stand on its mighty walls and gaze across the crystalline seas. We’ll tell you all you need to know to enjoy your visit to Dubrovnik and the entire region it once ruled.