Destination info

DUBROVNIK, a town, port and tourist centre of the southern Croatian coast; population 49,278. It lies at the foot of the limestone Srd Mount (412 m), in a valley enclosed to the south-west by the Lapad plateau and a smaller reef with the oldest part of Dubrovnik. The ancient town core was connected with the suburban zone on the other side of the valley by levelling and filling up of a marshy valley between the Gruz Bay in the north and Stari Porto (Old Port) in the south, as well as by the construction of the Placa (Stradun). Stradun thus became the centre of the town and its main street, connecting two opposite town gates: the Ploce Gate in the east and the Pile Gate in the west. Upon the construction of the port in the Gruz Bay, Gruz was gradually annexed to Dubrovnik and became an integral part of the town. Later on, Dubrovnik extended also to the Lapad peninsula, to lower parts of the Srd slopes and outside the town ramparts toward Zupa. The climate of Dubrovnik is characterized by warm and dry summers and mild winters. The average air temperature in the coldest month (February) is 4.6 °C and in the warmest month (August) 26.2 °C. The cold half of the year accounts for 68 % of the total annual rainfall; the spring accounts for 29, the summer for 14, the autumn for 26 and the winter for 37 rainy days out of the total number of 105 rainy days. Snow occurs extremely rarely; with 2,554 hours of sunshine a year, Dubrovnik ranks among the sunniest towns of southern Europe. In July it has 12.4 hours of sunshine a day, like Alexandria in Egypt. The vegetation is subtropical and extremely luxuriant (olives, almonds, citrus fruit, rosemary, laurel, holm oak, pine, stone pine, cypress). Southeast of the old part of the town is a tourist zone called Ploce (hotels and beaches), west of it is Lapad (sports facilities, hotels, beaches, walking trails), while northwest of it is the Gruz port and Gruz. Economy is based on tourism and seafaring. The town has a number of cultural and educational institutions: the Nautical College, the Tourist College, the University Centre for Postgraduate Studies of the University of Zagreb, the Institute of History of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and other.
Dubrovnik has a town port, the port of Gruz and a marina. The old town port is protected by the Porporela breakwater; yachts drawing up to 3 m may dock in it; smaller ships are docked in the cove of Gornja Bocina. The port of Gruz is a trading port, situated 2.5 km northwest of the ancient town core of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Marina is located in Komolac, in the interior part of Rijeka Dubrovacka, about 4 km from the entrance to the port of Gruz. Dubrovnik is located on the main road (m2, E65). The Dubrovnik airport is located in Cilipi.
Dubrovnik - the city of a unique political and cultural history (the Dubrovnik Republic, the Statute from 1272), of world-famous cultural heritage and beauty (inscribed on the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO) - is one of the most attractive and famous cities of the Mediterranean. Apart from its outstanding natural beauties and well-preserved cul-tural and historical heritage, Dubrovnik also offers high-quality visitor opportunities. It is also the city of hotels, of high ecological standards and tourist programs, and is equally attractive in all seasons. Its geographical isolation is compensated by high traffic and communication standards - especially through air traffic and fast hydrofoil boats.
The tourist development of Dubrovnik started before the First World War; quite soon, the exclusiveness of its attractions made Dubrovnik a powerful international tourist centre.
The sightseeing of Dubrovnik and its monuments requires several days. However, already a walk through Stradun, through narrow streets and small squares, monumental ramparts and fortreses, provides enough opportunities to experience the millennial beauty of its shell-shaped urban core, centuries of building, stone-cutting, carving and engraving, the history of the Duke's Palace, libraries, the oldest pharmacy in the south of Europe, etc.
Dubrovnik offers individual choice among numerous museums and galleries, which contain the jewels of Croatian heritage. The Dubrovnik Museum in the Duke's Palace keeps 15,500 exhibits in its cultural and historical department. A collection of furniture from the 17th-19th century, uniforms of dukes and councillors, aristocratic garments and many other items are exhibited in the authentic halls of the palace. The Maritime Museum (situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan) has a number exhibits on a permanent display, related to the maritime affairs of Dubrovnik and Croatia on the whole, with a particular emphasis on the history of the Dubrovnik Republic. The museum of the Franciscan monastery keeps all inventories of the old pharmacy, as well as the works of Dubrovnik jewel-lers, painters and embroiders. The museum of the Dominican monastery exhibits valuable examples of Dubrovnik painting from the 15th and the 16th centuries, as well as sculptures, jewellery, manuscripts, incunabula and notes (music). The treasury of the Dubrovnik cathedral keeps the relics of St. Blaise, patron of Dubrovnik, and numerous paintings and works of art. The Rupe Ethnographical Museum presents traditional occupations and the rural architecture of the region of Dubrovnik, national costumes and hand-made textiles. Very attractive is also the Aquarium of the Institute of Biology, situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan, comprising interesting marine species.
Dubrovnik has a number of churches, monasteries and hotels scattered all over the town. Its coastal belt is adorned with several marinas, piers and promenades. Because of a magnificent view on the mediaeval Dubrovnik, a walk along the town ramparts is a must for each visitor.
A great number of Dubrovnik restaurants and taverns offer delicious specialities of local and international cuisine. Sports and recreational facilities include playgrounds, courts and requisites for all sports in the sea and on the ground, from tennis and table tennis to sailing and yachting. There are also several gyms and fitness centres with swimming pools, saunas, massage, aerobics, solarium, box gyms, etc.
Dubrovnik is famous for quality hotels. Most of them are situated on the Lapad peninsula and in the area of Ploce, southeast of the old town. The hotel complex Dubrava - Babin Kuk on Lapad has all features of a small town. It has a shopping centre, a bank, an out-patient department, many restaurants and cafés, and a street called the "New Stradun", which connects all hotels.
Dubrovnik is the city of an outstanding cultural and artistic life. The most important event in the cultural life of the city is the Dubrovnik Summer Festival (10th of July - 25th of August), traditionally held since 1950. It is a theatre and classical and folk music festival, since 1956 included in the calendar of world festivals and as such one of the most famous cultural events in the world. Concerts and other performances take place on open stages in the town (Gunduliceva Poljana, Drziceva Poljana, Lovrijenac, Revelin) or in beautiful interiors of the most famous buildings (Duke's Palace, cloisters, churches). The repertoire includes works of Croatian and world classics, performed by the leading personalities from Croatia and abroad, including a number of world-famous actors, directors, conductors, etc. So far several hundreds of them have performed in Dubrovnik. An important part of the Festival are performances of local (Lindo, Lado) and foreign folk music ensembles.
The artistic life of Dubrovnik is characterized by numerous exhibitions taking place throughout the year. Apart from already renowned galleries - the Art Gallery (Put Frana Supila 23), its exhibition space Luza Art Centre (Stradun), Sebastian - occasional and permanent exhibitions are also held in other spaces as well.
Very famous are also Dubrovnik carnival festivities - so-called Dubrovnik "karnevo" (local variant of the word "carnival"), held ever since the early Middle Ages, when they were brought from the neighbouring Italy. Another important event is the Feast Day of St. Blaise, also the Day of Dubrovnik (3rd of February). The feast takes place for the whole week, including religious ceremonies, a procession through the town, concerts, sports events, entertainment and carnival programs. Excursions to Dubrovnik during that week are regularly organized.

CAVTAT, a town and port in the southern part of the Zupa Bay, 20 km southeast of Dubrovnik; popu-lation 1,930. Major tourist attractions include a very pleasant climate, luxuriant vegetation and nice shores. Economy is based on tourism, while chief occupations in the surroundings of Cavtat include farming and fishing. The port is enclosed by two peninsulas: the south-western Sustjepan separates it from the channel, which is enclosed by the Cavtat reefs of Bobara and Mrkan. East of the Rat peninsula is the Tiha bay. Accommodation and catering facilities are located in the background of the town port and the Tiha cove. Nice beaches stretch all the way to Cape Prahljevac. Cavtat is located on the main road (m2, E65). It is very well connected with major Croatian cities through Dubrovnik and Cilipi Airport, while local communications with the surroundings include ship and bus lines.
Cavtat, a town of beautiful palaces, summer mansions and hotels, with a pleasant climate and luxuriant vegetation, nice beaches and peaceful coves, is the tourist centre of the southernmost part of the Croatian coast. Apart from various forms of accommodation - hotels, boarding houses, apartments, intensive exploitation of economic resources of the hinterland, i.e. home-made food, Cavtat also offers excellent recreational opportunities - pleasant walks in the town which may be called a museum, tennis courts, gyms, jogging trails, saunas, water sports facilities (famous for water-polo). One of the major tourist attractions is the natural monument called Sipun Cave. Hotel Croatia is also one of the tourist and architectural attractions. It is situated at a beautiful location above the open sea and is considered the best and most beautiful hotel on the Croatian coast.
The chief permanent cultural event is the Cavtat Summer (July - August), with a number of concerts of harmony-singing groups, folk music groups and sports tournaments (water-polo). The most popular event is the Day of Our Lady of the Snows (5th of August), along with the public holiday commemorating an important date in the recent Croatian history. During the carnival festivities (Janu-a-ry and February), the so-called Small Carnival Fiesta is the major event.

KORČULA, a town and port on the north-eastern coast of the island of Korcula, situated on a small peninsula which is connected with the island by a narrow isthmus; population 3,232. The surrounding coastal area is covered with pine forests. East of the port is a small group of islets. The climate is mild; an average air temperature in January is 9.8 °C and in July 26.9 °C; the island is famous for a long insolation. Economy is based on farming, growing of vines, olives and fruit, fishing, shipbuilding, stone processing, tourism and nautical tourism. The regional road connects the town of Korcula with all major places on the island. The port consists of the western and the eastern part. Korcula Marina is located in a cove on the eastern side of the town. Korcula has regular ferry lines with the mainland (Korcula - Orebic).
The town of Korcula, the historical centre of the island, has a very nice location in the Peljesac Channel. It is also known for its outstanding cultural and historical heritage and a long tradition in seafaring, shipbuilding and stone-masonry. It is the birthplace of the adventurer and traveller Marco Polo. Today Korcula is an important tourist centre. Tourism has a years-long tradition on the island. The first modern hotel, Korcula, was opened in 1912, in a building erected in 1871. Hotel guests have been enjoying the sunset at the hotel terrace for decades, which is a unique experience in the early summer.
Visitor opportunities of the island of Korcula include various types of accommodation - hotels, apartments, campsites, marina; sports and recreational facilities, especially interesting are water sports; organized excursions and a rich cultural life and entertainment programs. Cultural events of "Moreska" and "Kumpanija" have become world-famous. Gastronomic offer includes famous fish specialities and exquisite, top-class local wines (Posip, Rukatac, Grk, Plavac), due to which Korcula is also called "the island of wines". The local cuisine is also famous for traditional cakes and sweets, such as "cukarini", "krostule" and "prikle".
Korcula has numerous tennis courts. Windsurfing and yachting equipment may be rented. Interesting excursions are one-day or longer sailing or yachting tours and diving expeditions led by professional divers.
The most important cultural event is the traditional chivalrous game called "Moreska". It has been performed in Korcula since the 15th century and is of Spanish origin. It is a battle between the army of the White King and the army of the Black King, who fight for the princess abducted by the Black King. After a fierce fight with swords, in seven battle figures and a dramatic dialogue, the White King defeats the Black King and sets the princess free. The fight is accompanied by a battle march performed by a brass band.
Moreska is performed every year on the 29th of July, together with the celebration of St. Todor, but also on several occasions during the tourist season.
Other traditional feasts in Korcula include the carnival, which starts on the Epiphany, and the Holy Week, with the procession of guilds - especially impressive is the procession on Good Friday. -Other religious feasts are the day of Sts. Peter and Paul (29th of June) with bonfires, the festivities of the Assumption of Our Lady (15th of August) and the feast of St. Martin, with baptizing of young wine (in November). Many cultural and sports events take place during the summer months: music festivals, theatre and folk music performances, sports contests, yachting regattas, etc.
Korcula ACI Marina has 220 berths in the sea and 100 places on the ground.

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