Old town of Dubrovnik

However you approach Dubrovnik, from land, sea or air, you have to be amazed. We approached it from the sea and disembarked in the old harbor. The night before, the air was cleaned by bura wind so it was the perfect day for a walk.

It started in the old port, the very heart of this medieval city where, centuries ago, old galleons were preparing for their long journeys to Levant. We continued our walk to the front of the Dominican monastery, climbing up the steps with the famous fence from the 15th Century that was built in a way that it was hiding the ankles of the local ladies. The harmony of the city was surrounding us from every side, stone built on stone, built for man and life. One of the many interesting streets was the “Zlatarska ulica” or goldsmiths-street where they made jewelry, dishes and religious objects, making it one of the most important economies at that time.

As we walked in the city, the eyes of one old man with the beard were following us. His face was on every corner, guarding the city from every side. That old man was the patron saint of Dubrovnik: Saint Blaise, or Vlaho as he is called in Dubrovnik. His church is in the very heart of the old town, on the main square and it is among the most beautiful in the town.

The main street was spreading in front of us and we stopped to say hello to Roland, or Orlando locally, a medieval night in the center of the square. He was under flashlight of the tourists so we walked slowly towards the market place to enjoy the smell of fruits, vegetables and local delicacies; figs, olive oil, grappa, liqueurs, sugared orange peels…

Very soon we were in front of the beautiful Franciscan monastery that is famous for its pharmacy. It was opened in 1317 and it is the longest operating pharmacy in Europe. After the Franciscan museum we were ready for the best part: the city walls. It was delightful to walk along the ramparts built in the 15th and 16th centuries and to admire the beauty of the stone, roof tops and the sea. These ramparts were jealously guarding the city for 450 years of independence of Dubrovnik. On Lovrijenac fort one can still read “Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro” or “Freedom cannot be sold for all the gold in the world.”

We returned on board Panorama for lunch, and our afternoon was followed by the beautiful a capella singing of Klapa Ostro from Konavle in the ambience of the Dominican monastery. With their beautiful costumes and voices, they left the final trace of Dubrovnik…as it once was.