City walls of Dubrovnik
Walk over the rooftops of the city
The massive structure, which is up to six meters thick in some places, encloses the old town of Dubrovnik, Croatia, from all sides, even from the sea, and was intended to form an insurmountable protective wall. Today the wall is not only the most famous sight of the city in Dalmatia, but in 1979 it was also included in the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city wall is up to 25 meters high and you can walk around the whole city on it. There are wonderful views over the red roofs of the old town, the sea and the busy city harbor, which is mainly used for tourism, with its fishing boats, ferries and pleasure boats. Again and again you have the opportunity to stop and refresh yourself in small cafés that have either been integrated into the wall or are housed in one of the towers. Picturesque motifs inspire the photographers and make the eventful history of the city and its impressive wall almost forgotten. Trips to Dubrovnik are simply not complete without a tour of the best preserved city walls in Europe.
Old Ragusa comes to life
Dubrovnik, formerly called Ragusa, had to withstand nine major sieges during its 1000-year history, and an earthquake in the 17th century did not cause any major damage to the massive city wall. It was not until the 20th century, during the fighting for Dubrovnik in the early 1990s, that the UNESCO World Heritage Site was damaged. Some of the consequences can still be seen today. Five fortresses, three of which are part of the wall, impressively emphasize the defensive character of the structure. Study trips to Dubrovnik deal with the long and exciting history of the city and region, shed light on the background of the war in the former Yugoslavia and are dedicated to the architectural features of the pearl on the Adriatic.
Diocletian’s Palace Split
Anyone visiting the Croatian port city of Split cannot miss the Diocletian’s Palace. The palace in the middle of the “capital of Dalmatia” is known far beyond the Croatian borders. No wonder: after all, the huge palace complex is one of the best-preserved monuments of Roman architecture not only in Croatia but also in the world. The inner part of Diocletian’s Palace, built in the third century on the orders of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Huge palace complex with numerous highlights
The palace area in the old town of Split, which covers a total of 40,000 square meters, consists of a total of four parts, which are separated by two main streets. The southern part of the palace was reserved for the emperor as a luxurious domicile. The northern part served mainly as accommodation for the life guards and the employees. The palace is surrounded by a 20 meter high massive wall with four large and four small towers. One of these towers is the 61 meter high bell tower, from whose viewing platform you can enjoy a great overview of the entire city and the harbor. One of the highlights of the palace complex is the rectangular inner courtyard, the so-called peristyle, which is surrounded by impressive porticoed halls. Even in the underground passages and the catacombs of the palace, countless valuable works of art can still be examined in an exhibition. Access to Diocletian’s Palace is possible through four city gates. The palace is open to visitors every day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Korcula
If you want to experience an unforgettable holiday on the Adriatic, Korcula is the right place for you. The island off the coast of southern Dalmatia is one of the most popular destinations for vacationers in Croatia. In addition to the small and large beaches, which annually attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Europe, Korcula offers numerous sheltered bays. The island also has many attractions to offer for adventurers and nature lovers. Pine, palm, pomegranate and almond trees provide an exotic flair on the entire island.
Marco Polo’s birthplace and the beautiful Lumbarda beach
The center of the island is the town of Korčula. One of the tourist magnets in the city is the alleged birthplace of the world-famous seafarer Marco Polo. A stroll through the beautiful medieval old town of Korcula, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Croatia, should not be missed. Also worth seeing in the city are the St. Mark’s Cathedral and the small harbor. Another popular tourist center on the island is Lumbarda, which is home to one of the most beautiful and largest sandy beaches on the entire Croatian Adriatic coast. Divers and snorkelers also get their money’s worth off the coast of Korcula. In recent years, many hotels, holiday homes and campsites have been built on Korcula.
