Dubrovnik – the gem of the Adriatic Print E-mail

Dubrovnik in Croatia is not a holiday destination I had ever thought about before. But when our cruise liner docked there for a day I was smitten – the place is stunning.

The Old Town of Dubrovnik has been restored and is a joy to visit. It is a walled city and you can spend an exhausting but worthwhile couple of hours walking around the top of the wall to get a flavour of the place. This takes in the harbour area and the sea, where you can see swimmers diving into the Adriatic from the rocks above.

The city itself has numerous shops selling all kinds of items. What stuck me was the cleanliness of the place – there wasn't a speck of litter anywhere.

The Old Town is a short taxi drive away from the main port, but the prices are fixed and very reasonable.

DubrovnikThe fact that Dubrovnik exists the way it is today is a miracle. The town became embroiled in the conflict as the former Yugoslavia broke up in the early 90s. On October 1, 1991 Dubrovnik was attacked with a siege that lasted for seven months. Total casualties in the conflict according to Croatian Red Cross were 114 civilians killed.

In May 1992 the Croatian Army lifted the siege and liberated Dubrovnik's surroundings. Following the end of the war, the damage caused by the shelling of the Old Town was repaired. Adhering to UNESCO guidelines, repairs were performed in the original style.

The end result is like walking back into the 16th Century.

Talented musicians often play in the Old Town and they are well worth listening too for five minutes or more. And when you get bored with that go and have a drink in one of the many outdoor cafes – prices are very reasonable.

So next time you see Dubrovnik featured in a holiday supplement don't just skip past it – it really is a little gem of place.

 
 
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