by Anita Barbaric

Dubrovnik Coastline photo by David Bohrer/Wikimedia

Are you interested in an amazing vacation in Dubrovnik, Croatia? Besides breathtaking nature, nice beaches and great weather there are also numerous attractions which should be seen. Here are the top 5 attractions of Dubrovnik :

Fountain of Ononfrio photo by Lasta/Wikimedia

1) Big Fountain of Ononfrio This Fountain was named after the Neapolitan architect Onofrio de la Cava who has built it in 1438-1444. Of all Dubrovnik’s numerous monuments, this is the most famous one. Visitors walking through the Pile gate will find the well known square where the Big Fountain of Ononfrio is located. It was originally designed by Onofrio de la Cava with two stories but the Big Fountain of Ononfrio lost its second story in the large earthquake of 1667 when huge parts of Dubrovnik were heavily damaged. The Big Fountain of Ononfrio was part of the city’s water supply system which was also designed by Onofrio de la Cava to move water from the river “Dubrovacka”.

2) Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Treasury The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a beautiful Baroque building from the 12th century. It was designed by Andrea Buffalini of Rome. It is very interesting inside, it has three aisles and three apses and is gorgeous decorated by paintings of Italian and Dalmation artists from the 16-18th Centuries along with the Virgin Chair. It is rumored that it was given by Raphael to the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in all its splendor. The Cathedral Treasury owns several important relics of Christianity. The most famous one is a small part of the cross Jesus has been crucified upon. Other very famous relics are the head, one leg and arm of St Blaise dated from the 13th Century.

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin photo by Jolle/Wikimedia

3) City Walls The city walls of the old town in Dubrovnik are one of the best known attractions . They were built in the 10th century and modified from the 13th until the 14th centuries. Some parts of the walls are 6m / 19ft thick, provided as a solid defense against invaders. The total length of the walls is 1949m / 6390ft and they are a great spot for a casual walk. Amazing views are offered from Dubrovnik’s city walls, over the Adriatic and some islands outwards and inwards over the center of the old town. Two towers and two forts are part of the city walls, the Minceta and the Bokar towers, and the Lovrjenc and the Revelin Fort. The main entrance to the city walls is located on the left side of the Pile Gate. The admission is charged.

4) Dominican Monastry The Dominican Monastery has a very interesting story relating to the construction. After the construction started in 1315 and the building and complex began to take form the sheer size of the complex necessitated the movement outwards of the city walls. The monastry was heavily damaged in the earthquake of 1667, and it was rebuilt to its former glory through the hard work of the city inhabitants. One of the architectural highlights of the Dominican Monastery is a late Gothic cloister. Michelozzo di Bartolomeo of Florence designed the it in the 15th Century.

5) Franciscan Monastry (The local name is: Franjevacki Samostan) Don’t confuse it with the Dominican Monastery. The Franciscan Monastery owns one of the most valuable libraries in Croatia. There is one more interesting thing at the Franciscan Monastery: the Pharmacy. Visitors can gain insight into the past by seeing decorated jars filled with mysterious contents, miscellaneous measurement devices with alembics and mortars. The pharmacy has been in use since this Monastery was built in 1317. These are only five of numerous interesting attractions you should vistit during your stay in amazing Dubrovnik at one of its great Dubrovnik hotel.