A whirlwind
mix of culture, the allure of turquoise sea, pebbly beaches, mountains and the
medieval-walled Old Town, the compact city of Dubrovnik certainly exceeded
expectations.
When you
hear so much about a place there is a danger that you are going to be
disappointed, but Dubrovnik really is as
special as people say.
 |
| Old Town and Banje Beach |
Damaged
severely by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its walls as
well as some stunning Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches and palaces.
The
disastrous “Homeland War” of the early 1990s also left its mark but the Pearl
of the Adriatic, as the city is often called, has managed to put the past
behind it. Nowadays, it is Croatia’s top tourist destination.
Tourists
flock to see Dubrovnik’s real draw, the Old Town. You do not really come
here for the museums, you come to soak up the atmosphere. Jostling with other
sightseers, I entered via the Pile Gate to find myself with a view of the
fabled Stradun, the main drag that runs through the Old Town’s beating heart.
 |
| The Old Town |
Once a
swamp, the now traffic-free promenade, played
host to merchants in the Middle Ages. Today, surrounded by the city
walls, churches, public buildings and stone houses meld harmoniously with
lost-in-time shops, bars and restaurants.
It seems a
regular pastime of not
just tourists but also the locals to sit at a café and drink coffee while
watching the world go by. Remember to find some time to mooch round the narrow
stone streets and visit the Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan monastery.
 |
| Enjoying coffee |
Climb the
steep steps of the monumental city wall which goes around the perimeter and
your huffing and puffing will be rewarded with views of the Adriatic on one
side and on the other side, mountains carpeted in red rooftops. There is always
the cable car for the less intrepid.
Outside the
city walls, Dubrovnik oozes a distinctive Mediterranean flavour. Saunter past
gardens exploding with vibrant colours as you linger along the beautiful
coastal paths.
 |
| Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik |
Hugging the
coastline are plenty of villas and hotels, some of which only some twenty-odd
years ago provided shelter for locals whose homes had been bombed and have
themselves now been rebuilt as they, too, were victims of the war.
Beaches here
are pebbly or light shingle. One of the best is Banje Beach. As it is beside
the Old Town, you can head here to take time out to relax or go for a dip in the sparkling
sea. If you have more time, take a short boat trip to explore the forested
island of Lokrum where you can also swim and sunbathe.
Late summer
or spring is a lovely time to visit. There are not too many cruise ships (when
they are in town, you can hardly move) but you may find yourself bumping into
fans of the TV program Game of
Thrones, which was filmed here. Since Hollywood discovered Dubrovnik, so
have even more tourists.
By Daralyn
Danns
Getting
there
British
Airways flies from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik from £62 each
way. For connections from regional airports and to book, visit www.britishairways.com
Rixos
Libertas Dubrovnik is a member of Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection.
Double room rates start from EUR 84.80. Just a short walk from the Old
Town this is a superb place. For more information or to book, visit www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/rixos-libertas.htm
or call 020 7380 3658
