Dubrovnik, Croatia
This morning we arrived in front of Dubrovnik Old Town. A spectalular view opened on the city walls as we enjoyed breakfast on board.
At 9:00 a.m. we landed by tender and started our tour around this marvelous old town. Strolling through the narrow streets of the southern part of Dubrovnik we enjoyed the mixture of architectural styles: Rectors Palace, the political heart of the medieval Republic of Ragusa, and Sponza Palace, the gorgeous Venetian gothic style and renaissance building that hosts the archives of Dubrovnik.
Walking along the streets, we passed the green market of the town; looking in every corner of its beautiful streets, we tried to experience life as it once was. We ended the walking tour in the Franciscan Monastery that hosts the third oldest pharmacy in Europe, the oldest one that still operates in the same shop. The monastery itself is a monument to architecture, with 60 pillars, each with a different decoration on the capital.
After our walking tour of Dubrovnik's old city we began a walk around the ramparts. It is spectacular to explore this jewel. We started our climb on the walls; seeing Dubrovnik from above is something that I would advise everyone to do. It is an experience of its own. Orange roof tiles covering the houses, hidden satelite dishes that show us where the inhabitants live, rocks walls over 25 meters high from where the view over the Adriatic Sea opens. It has been a fabulous experience!
An afternoon was spent at leisure, and at 6:00 p.m. we enjoyed the concert of Klapa Oštro. Klapa is a traditional way of singing passed from generation to generation. This popular a capella singing was performed for us in a cloister of the Dominican Monastery. Beautiful voices, charming melodies, the romantic ambience of an old monastery, all of that was a perfect way to start an evening in Dubrovnik.
After the concert some of us went to a bar near the city wall... to enjoy the most beautiful sunset view in this marvelous town. Watching the sun setting behind a fort of Lovrijenac with a glass of red wine was my perfect end to a perfect day.
