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  • UNESCO

Dubrovnik’s Old City

December 26, 2021 | Michael Turtle | 24 Comments

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Within tall and strong medieval walls lies one of the most beautiful coastal cities of Europe. Some call it the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, although I think that sounds too much like a tacky cruise liner to really do it justice.

Let’s just call it for the name that evokes enough wonder these days – Dubrovnik.

The Croatian city has become a huge tourist town and it’s easy to see why. Stepping through the large stone entranceway, through the fortified walls, you suddenly find yourself in what could be a section of a theme park or a Las Vegas casino.

Smooth marble floors; fountains spurting water from stone mouths; cafes lining the pedestrian-only streets; and beautiful churches and towers in panorama.

Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia

There are no cars in the old city and little alleyways run off the main boulevards. They’re filled with restaurants, shops, old homes and photo opportunities.

It would be easy to get lost except it is mainly in a grid pattern. Not that getting lost would be unpleasant – everything is so gorgeous in Dubrovnik.

At night it’s even more spectacular, and I have to look closely at the stars to make sure they’re not painted on a ceiling.

Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Although Dubrovnik was founded in the 7th century, it didn’t really hit its stride until the 13th century and it reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries. The architecture styles show a mixture of medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.

Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The area was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979 but that didn’t spare it from damage during the conflict in the Balkans during the 1990s.

A general from the Yugoslav People’s Army was sentenced by the International Criminal Tribunal for his role in the siege of Dubrovnik and the destruction of heritage-protected buildings in the Old City. After the war, UNESCO put in a lot of effort to help restore the city.

As part of my week of World Heritage Sites in Europe, I would now like to share some photos of what is officially called the ‘Old City of Dubrovnik’.

Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Old City, Dubrovnik, Croatia
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Mary @ Green Global Travel |

    August 21, 2013 at 12:37 am

    Reply

    It is easy to see why Dubrovnic is such a hot spot for travellers! Coming from North America, it is so humbling to imagine a city that was founded over a century ago – the result being this stunningly beautiful, thriving UNESCO World Heritage site and city with a multitude architectural influences. Nazdravlje!

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 27, 2013 at 8:32 pm

      Reply

      Coming from Australia, I have the same reaction all the time. You see places that were built hundreds of years before the world knew your country even existed and it’s hard to understand. But then you have somewhere like Dubrovnik which is not only old but so beautiful… and has withstood the test of time. It can be quite incredible.

  2. Nicole |

    August 21, 2013 at 5:51 am

    Reply

    We were just in Dubrovnik about 3 days ago. I try to find the beauty in pretty much every place we go. The wall is nice. We walked it. And the water is beautiful. But, that’s about all I could think of. Then again, I also got really sick there. So, it wasn’t the best experience. But the sunsets, just gorgeous. And I appreciate that it’s so old.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 27, 2013 at 8:31 pm

      Reply

      I think you must be the first person I’ve ever heard say that they didn’t LOVE Dubrovnik. Perhaps it was because you were sick… or perhaps the crowds made things a little too murky. I’ve got to say, though, it’s one of the best old cities I’ve ever seen in Europe and the water just tops it all off!

  3. T.W. Anderson @ Marginal Boundaries |

    August 21, 2013 at 7:36 am

    Reply

    Ahhhhh, cafe-lined streets, the quiet arts and crafts of the local villagers, the cool breeze of the sea, fresh seafood, good wine, gentle climate…what’s not to love!!!!

    Awesome stuff 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Michael!

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 27, 2013 at 8:29 pm

      Reply

      It certainly sounds like you’ve got a soft spot for this part of the world!! 🙂

  4. Jennifer |

    August 22, 2013 at 12:02 am

    Reply

    Absolutely loved Dubrovnik! We’ve traveled quite a bit all throughout Croatia and it is definitely our favorite city in the country.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 27, 2013 at 8:15 pm

      Reply

      There’s something really unique and special about it, isn’t there? I guess that’s why it’s become such a tourist hotspot… it looks like it was made just for them! 🙂

  5. noel |

    August 27, 2013 at 11:19 am

    Reply

    Beautiful city, I would love to visit some day, it just oozes old world

    Come and link up with us today for Travel Photo Mondays, the link runs all week so I hope you can join us for the next installment?

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 27, 2013 at 6:45 pm

      Reply

      Thanks Noel. I’ll check out Travel Photo Mondays – sounds like fun. I definitely got plenty of great shots from Dubrovnik. It’s such a photogenic city!!

      • Pennie |

        November 10, 2018 at 12:28 am

        Reply

        Visited Dubrovnik in 80’s and will never forget this city loved it and was able to see fresco’s on walls and ceilings believe many were distroyed when war of 90’s purposely targeted piercing roof tops to damage old city destroying fresco’s

  6. Davide |

    September 5, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    Reply

    I loved my visit to Dubrovnik, unfortunately I was there only for one day so I might go back to see more!

    • Michael Turtle |

      September 13, 2013 at 4:10 am

      Reply

      I got the feeling it was a city that you could get a good sense of in a day… at least the old part of the city. But I’m sure the more you explore, the more Dubrovnik opens up and reveals itself to you.

  7. Ali |

    September 18, 2013 at 12:32 am

    Reply

    I was only in Dubrovnik for a day but I loved it. Such a gorgeous city! I’d love to go back, but not in the heat of August.

  8. Murad |

    November 10, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Reply

    Dear Michael,

    I was in Dubrovnik just for 2 days but I loved it very much. I would be very happy to visit again this city. What is your travel plans for 2016? It would be very nice to see the name of our country in your wishlist countries too. When you are in our country, I will be very happy to assist you just free of charge. We are passionate to show you our country because, we love history, fauna and flora, culture and cuisine, and people of our country and we love to travel.
    Azerbaijan bordered by Russia, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Armenia and the Caspian Sea. Home to UNESCO world heritage sites and signs of early civilisations, the landscape and history leave plenty to be explored.

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 12, 2015 at 2:32 pm

      Reply

      I would love to get to Azerbaijan! It’s a part of the world that I really haven’t explored so hopefully there’ll be an opportunity to get there in the next couple of years!

  9. Patricia Franjkovic |

    April 30, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    Reply

    Wow, what great pictures! Dubrovnik is really a beautiful place to be! Always a pleasure reading about and get some other impressions =)

    Very kind regards from Patricia from http://www.croatiastories.de/

  10. lukas kae |

    June 2, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    Reply

    amazing pictures. Thanks for sharing with us

  11. Sharvi Sharma |

    August 30, 2018 at 12:39 pm

    Reply

    wow! love the pictures you’ve put. Visiting Croatia next month. Very informative blog!

  12. Imperial Dubrovnik |

    April 24, 2019 at 9:51 pm

    Reply

    I love Dubrovnik i try very hard to be there every year !

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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