Articles
Dubrovnik, Croatia - A City of Royalty
by Roy Witman © 2008
The Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik,
Croatia, is often frequented by royalty and is
virtually unchanged since its 13th-century
completion. Situated on the coast of the
Adriatic Sea, this city has had a dramatic and
cluttered past. Being tossed from one regime
to another, Dubrovnik (formerly called
Ragusa) was finally freed after 14 centuries of
upheaval.
As part of their military strategy, Dubrovnik
constructed a wall to encompass the city.
Surviving years of threats and attacks, the wall
is still standing today and is highly visible to
those approaching the city via cruise
ship.
The Wall
According to Princess Cruises, “The town
of Ston is surrounded by one of the longest
defensive walls in the world. The stone wall,
over three miles in length, protects the city and
ancient salt pans created during the Dubrovnik
Republic in the 12th to 19th centuries.” The
wall is of such significance that it has been
named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Dubrovnik gained her independence in the
early '90s although she had to endure an
attack. On October 1, 1991, the Yugoslav
People's Army began an assault that lasted
seven months. At the end, the walls held, and
the country was renamed the Republic of
Croatia.
Excursions
Filled with bay laurel and camphor trees,
Dubrovnik has as many smells as it does
sites. The aroma of bay leaves wafts through
the air, leaving fragrant clues as to the types
of vegetation found in this region. Many cruise
lines, including Princess Cruises, offer
excursions that include walking tours of the
many botanical gardens in Dubrovnik. In
addition to bay leaves, you'll also become
familiar with camphor trees, which have a
similar scent to eucalyptus and menthol.
Additional tours that take you along
Croatia's coast and countryside offer hours of
fun. Tour monasteries, historic churches and
museums filled with ancient wonders. You'll
also have plenty of opportunities to sample
local seafood (a specialty!), locally grown figs
and other regional delights.
The Gem Among Gems
With customary white buildings with bright
red roofs, Dubrovnik has a panoramic view of
sapphire-blue seas backed by lush-green
foliage. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival (held
since 1950) celebrates cultural
accomplishments in music and stage, while the
Dubrovnik Film Festival marks achievements
on screen. Numerous other cultural festivals
take place throughout the year.
With regal palaces and cathedrals,
Dubrovnik boasts some of the most detailed
and breathtaking buildings in the world. One
such site is the Church of St. Ignatius (the
stairway and the square in front are used as
venues at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival).
Enormous columns of marbled pink, gray and
blue hues stretch forward toward the sky as if
to reach heaven itself.
From its turmoiled past to its bright future,
Dubrovnik is a gleaming jewel in the Adriatic
that offers both educational and cultural value
to those who visit.
Read more about the Princess
Cruise Line.
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