DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

Leaving the port we drive to the newly built bridge across the Dubrovnik River, to our first panoramic stop, which will offer us a spectacular view of the picturesque Lapad peninsula, the commercial port of Gruž and the Elaphite archipelago.

Leaving the port we drive to the newly built bridge across the Dubrovnik River, to our first panoramic stop, which will offer us a spectacular view of the picturesque Lapad peninsula, the commercial port of Gruž and the Elaphite archipelago. Before arriving in the old town of Dubrovnik, we will have a second panoramic stop. Once in the old town we are offered some wonderful views of the city and walls, which span 1,940 metres (6,365 feet) in total and include five bastions, three round and 12 square towers. Our sightseeing tour begins from Pile Gate, where the broad main street, known as Placa or Stradun, of the ancient town starts. Placa is the very heart of Dubrovnik; nearly all the beautiful stately houses lining this thoroughfare are in late Renaissance style, having been built after the Great Earthquake of 1667. As the old town is closed off to vehicles, our visit here will be made entirely on foot. We will make our way to the Dominican Monastery and its church, built in the 14th century – one of the most beautiful reminders of old Dubrovnik. The monastery has extremely valuable archives and a large library with rare books and manuscripts; it also houses valuable examples of Dubrovnik gold-work from the 16th century, and items of church furniture. Our tour will proceed to the Rector’s Palace. Once seat of the Government and the Rector of the Dubrovnik Republic, today its permanent display of artefacts, furniture, paintings, coins, medals, stamps and arms is certainly worth seeing. Our next stop is at the Cathedral, a Baroque building dating from the 17th century. It occupies the site of an earlier cathedral, a Romanesque basilica, which was probably the most splendid building of Dubrovnik before its destruction during the Great Earthquake. The Cathedral’s exceptionally rich treasury preserves relics of gold and silverwork from the 12th to the 17th centuries. The exhibits include hand-made gold and silver jewellery, which belonged to the Dubrovnik nobility, gold and silver decorative items with pearl and coral ornaments, as well as church relics made of bone and plated in silver and gold. After some free time at leisure, we return by coach from Pile Gate to our ship.

Please note this tour involves 1 ½ hours of walking and steps will be encountered at every visit. The upper floor of the Rector’s Palace is not wheelchair accessible.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES