Where
Jutting out on a peninsular chunk of the Dalmatian coastline, Dubrovnik is a glittering jewel in the Adriatic Sea. Seated at the southern-most tip of Croatia, it is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea. It is also a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
When
If you are looking for sparser crowds, warm waters fit for swimming and sunbathing – the shoulder months of May, June, September and October are your best bets. In spring and early summer, the steady wind makes sailing great. July and August are peak season when the coastal city is just throbbing with life.
Why
The remarkable old town, encompassed by mighty defensive walls that dip their feet in the cerulean sea, is a highlight of any trip to Dubrovnik, capturing the essence of a medieval Mediterranean fantasy. ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic’ is a region to be savoured by beach seekers, wine lovers and history buffs alike.
Making Modern Fashionable
Villa Art Deco in Dubrovnik is a standing testament of true Art Deco style as it utilises the decorative and applied art of interior design and architecture.
Today it stands as a protected monument of architectural excellence between the two World Wars. Located in the most elite residential neighbourhood and in walking distance from the medieval charm of the old town, it enjoys a gorgeous setting with striking sunsets and sea views. The impressive historic house, renovated in 2013, sleeps thirteen.
Resembling an art gallery, it nurtures the concept of interesting and functional spatial design. The ground floor comes equipped with a kitchen, modern dining room, living room and one of the five bedrooms and six bathrooms. An internal stone staircase connects the successive floors. The first floor houses another living room guarded by large glass windows that bring in sweeping views of the Adriatic and the beautiful island of Lokrum.
While the second floor plays host to the sauna, the attic impresses with its appealing bedroom and attached bathroom as it leads you to a cosy book corner, comfortably tucked away. A private garden, hot tub, swimming pool, dining table and lounge chairs located outside the villa invite you to enjoy the red-purple daybreak as it renders your stay complete.
An Architectural Odyssey
An outstanding monument of secular architecture, The Rector’s Palace owes its present silhouette to many additions and reconstructions throughout its turbulent history. From time to time, it was destroyed or severely damaged by fire, gunpowder explosions or earthquakes and each time an architect ventured to restore it, the building assumed a new touch. As a result, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo traits found place in a unique mixture of styles, blended perfectly across the monumental structure.
In its earliest form, the palace resembled a fortress where sea prisoners were held in its brutal prison. Today it is home to a museum. A court room, dungeon and scribes office are located on the ground level. A permanent exhibition of paintings and furniture is distributed throughout the ground, mezzanine and first floors. Its atrium is the most acoustic building of Dubrovnik and hosts the world’s best musicians and artists in engaging concerts.
Servings Of Modern Antiquity
The rooftops are a clue to Dubrovnik’s character. The neatly overlapping red and orange tiles seem almost deliberate until you realize that the lighter ones are scars – repairs made after a shelling blitz lent by the War. Its brazen beauty has the onlooker searching for more. That’s when Restaurant 360 o occupied centre stage. Ringed by the great city walls overlooking the old port, it effortlessly blends its historical setting with modern seating.
The tables are positioned such that one can peer through the battlements on the harbour. With a constantly changing, progressive menu, it is particularly skilled with seafood, modern Mediterranean dishes and innovations of Croatian classics. Without being too formal, it prides itself on a casual vibe that provides upscale, sophisticated dining at its best.
A Dominant Fortress
Dubbed ‘Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar’ for its location on a rocky promontory, Fort Lovrijenac is a fortress and theatre just outside the city’s western walls. Rising an impressive thirty-seven metres above the Adriatic, this stunning fortress proved impregnable during many sieges undertaken by Venetians. Noted for its unusual triangular layout, quadrilateral court with soaring arches and three terraces, the Fort is defended by ten cannons, the largest being called the ‘Lizard’.
While its sea fronting walls are twelve metres thick, those on the eastern side are only sixty centimetres thick. Such construction was done purposely. In case the fort was taken, the enemy could be easily destroyed directly from the city walls and Fort Bokar.
In addition to serving as a tourist attraction, the fort is also used as a venue for Dubrovnik’s Summer Festival, hosting many theatrical and musical performances. While Shakespeare’s Hamlet found an ambient stage here, the popular series ‘Game of Thrones’ was also shot across its premises.
Text By Kanupriya Pachisia
