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Dubrovnik, Dalmatian and Italian Ragusa (official name until 1909), Latin Ragusium, also Rhausium, Rhaugia) is a historic city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic. |
Since 1979, the historic centre of Dubrovnik has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Ragusa (Raugia) was founded in the 7th century on a rocky island named Laus, which provided shelter for Latin refugees from the nearby city of Epidaurus, today's Cavtat also Ragusavecchia. Some time later a settlement of Slavic people grew at the foot of the forested Srđ hill. This settlement gives to the city its Slavic name "Dubrovnik".
Between the 14th century and 1808 Ragusa ruled itself as a free state. The Republic had its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, when its thalassocracy rivaled that of the Republic of Venice and other Italian maritime republics.
The city was ruled by aristocracy that formed two city councils. As usual for the time, they maintained a strict system of social classes. The republic abolished the slave trade early in the 15th century and valued liberty highly. The city successfully balanced its sovereignty between the interests of Venice and the Ottoman Empire for centuries.
The economic wealth of the Republic was partially the result of the land it developed, but especially of the seafaring trade it did. With the help of skilled diplomacy, Ragusa's merchants traveled lands freely, and on the sea the city had a huge fleet of merchant ships (argosy) that traveled all over the world. From these travels they founded some settlements, from India to America, and brought parts of their culture and vegetation home with them. One of the keys to success was not conquering, but trading and sailing under a white flag with the word freedom (Latin: Libertas) prominently featured on it. That flag was adopted when slave trading was abolished in 1418.
DUBROVNIK RAMPARTS
The city ramparts are considered to be one of the most grandiose fortification monuments in Europe, and are an example of how fort architecture developed.The first fortifications were built already in the 8th century, but the most intense construction took place from the mid-15th to the end of the 16th century. The huge earthquake in 1667 did not do much damage.
The ramparts encompass the city in an irregularly shaped polygon, with Fort Minčeta at the highest northwestern landward corner of the city and with Fort St. John’s on the southeastern seaside.
Strong forts, such as Fort Lawrence at Pile and Fort Revelin at Ploče, are also part of the defence system, even though they are separated from the ramparts.
The ramparts are 22 metres high in places, and from 4 to 6 m. thick on the landward side and from 1-1/2 to 3 m. thick on the seaside. In front of the main wall on the mainland side is an outer wall with 10 semi-circular bastions, in front of which used to be a moat. The main wall has 14 quadrangular and 2 circular towers, 2 angular fortifications and 4 bastions.
There are three entrances to the city ramparts: on Stradun by the Pile gate, by Fort St. John’s and at the Custom’s House gate.
SACRED ARCHITECTURE
The Dubrovnik Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, was constructed on the site of a Romanesque Cathedral according to plans drawn by Andrea Buffalini from Urbino between 1672 and 1713.
Legend has it that it was built by Richard the Lion Heart. The remains of 6th/7th century's Byzantine basilica were discovered in its foundations. The present Baroque cathedral has three naves and a transept; in its apse there is Titian's polyptych The Assumption of the Virgin (1552). Numerous valuable reliquaries are displayed in its very rich treasury. Apart from the paintings this treasury boasts of five reliquaries of St. Blaise.
DUBROVNIK CHURCHES
Dubrovnik’s Cathedral
The Church of St Blaise
Church of St Ignatius
Church of the Holy Saviour
Dominican monastery
Franciscan Monastery
Church of the Annunciation
Church of St Luke
Church of St Sebastian
Church of St Nicholas
Church of St James 'Pipunar'
Sigurata Church
Church of St Roch
Domino Church
Church of St Joseph
Church of St Mary of the Castle
Church of St Margaret
Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Church of St James
Church of St Nicholas of the Shipyard
Benedictine Abbey
Church of St Mary (Our Lady of Danče)
Parish Church of St Andrew
Parish Church of St Peter
Church of St George
Church of Our Lady of Mercy
Church of the Holy Cross
Church of St Blaise on Gorica
Church of St Michael in Lapad
Synagogue
Mosque
Orthodox church Of the Annunciation |
DUBROVNIK RAMPARTS
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Minčeta Fort
St. Luke’s tower
St. John’s fort
Bokar fort
Lovrjenac fort
Revelin Fort
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