They call it "the pearl of the Adriatic" for its position, its shape and its beauty. We are going to consider it as “the capital of the Adriatic“, For their crowds, their connections and their attraction. We realized from the first moment, walking down the main street “Stradun” was not as pleasant as we had planned! There are many people who, like us, want to discover first hand this wonder on the Adriatic shore, and for something it will be!
Duborvnik, or the former Ragusa, has a fascinating story. It was an independent republic for several centuries and its coastal position, with one of the most important ports in the world at that time and with a fleet not negligible, made it a true power. Their prosperity was reflected in the many buildings constructed from the Middle Ages and that today can be enjoyed, thanks, in large part, to the huge wall that defended them from external attacks and that was never violated during the 5 centuries that this city-state lasted ... the thing would change during the Balkan War, during which the city was under siege and enemy fire. But this is an other history…
It is currently Wall It is considered one of the most beautiful and best preserved in the world and has become the symbol of the city. You can take an uninterrupted tour of almost 2km over it, yes, prior payment of 100kunas, which makes "stopper" for backpacking racanos like us. But we think the visit is worth it.
The other star attraction is Stradun, the main street that crosses the ancient city of Ragusa and around which life developed in the past centuries and where most tourists gather today. The beautiful facades that enclose it, the cobbled road, the cafes and premises that have managed to squeeze the atmosphere of the place (even if they are too many!) And ultimately, the history that still breathes, will help you fly a little in time. Of course, you will not be the only one in the sky of Dubrovnik, prevented you stay.
Although what really makes you totally detach yourself from reality is getting lost in the streets lateral to the central track. It does not matter if on your right or left side, if you climb a lot or not so much, if the street is more or less narrow, more or less bright, more or less beautiful. Take your time to walk aimlessly and let yourself be carried along the balconies, porticos or clothes. This is how we found the most authentic places, lovers of Games of Thrones will agree with us.
Outside its walls, a few meters away, there is a beautiful beach with clear waters and wonderful views. Is the call Banje Beach, and it is no secret! What is a good trick is this: on the way to this beach, just out of one of the eastern doors of the city, there is a Pekara (bakery) with excellent alternatives to the expensive restaurants downtown. Snacks for € 2, pizzas for € 1.50 and Burek for € 1. Besides everything is delicious! It's not a bad plan to take a pitstop there on the way to the beach and organize a picnic before taking a dip, isn't it?
Dubrovnik was our last stop in Croatia and we arrived from Split touring the beautiful coastal road through the Dalmatia region. It reminded us a little of the west coast of New Zealand. They pass through very cool places like the Omis fjord and some viewpoints on the coast, before crossing Bosnia! Did you know that to cross from north to south (obviously from south to north too) Croatia you must pass a stretch through Bosnian territory? With its borders, its passport controls and all the rigging.
And, of course, we will remember Croatia for the homemade cevapcici that Mrs. Maria prepared (and the homemade sauce of roasted peppers and the rest of delicacies) on her grandson's birthday! Yum! Oh, and of the many Spaniards who were on the loose here, especially Elena and Pedro, two very old boys with whom we shared a good time.
- Where to sleep: We did it at GH María.
- How to get from Split by road: It will take us about three hours to travel 230km. Here is the travel map:
- Move around Dubrovnik: The center is closed to traffic, if you want to move around you can do it with an urban bus. Route 8 is the most common for accommodations in the area where we stay. The price is 12 kunas if you buy the ticket in a kiosk or 15 kunas if you do it on the bus.
