The walls of Dubrovnik

There are many beautiful cities along the Adriatic Sea, but few can match the splendor of Dubrovnik.

The old town of Dubrovnik is sheltered by massive stone walls from the 16th century. This is best viewed from Fort Lovrijenac, where the walls are seen as a dramatic frontier towards the sea.

The walled city of Dubrovnik, as seen from Fort Lovrijenac.

Another option for a great view is to take the cable car up the mountain Srd, where the view of the sea is arguably better but the dramatic view of the walled city is diminished due to the altitude.

As soon as I entered the city through the Pile Gate, it became obvious that this is a magical place. I passed the Onofrio’s fountain from 1438 and walked along the main street, Placa Stradun, on worn limestone pavement.

We sat down on the steps of St. Blaise Church, in front of Orlando Column at Luza Square. A band was playing Shostakovich beneath the arches of Sponza Palace and children were chasing pigeons.

View from Minceta Tower.

After an espresso we felt ready to scale the walls. After one lap you get a pretty good orientation of the city. Some of the roof tiles have a brighter orange hue than the rest, since they were rebuilt after damage from the war.

From the Minceta Tower I had an awesome view of the old town. In the distance I could see the Lokrum island, used as “Palace of Qarth” in Game of Thrones.

Even though the walls may have been impenetrable in the past, these days it’s an easy feat. We sneak through small passages and end up at Buza, a cozy bar perched on the tiny cliffs between the walls and the sea. A perfect spot for enjoying the sunset with a cold drink.