Making history
The cultural cradle of Croatia has a huge collection of architectural and archaeological attractions from more than 1,000 years of history. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik still boasts the splendour of its maritime supremacy in the 13th century. Visiting the city is like travelling back in time. A fairy-tale landscape hugs the 1,940m-long ancient wall and its collection of perfectly preserved monuments earned it Unesco World Heritage Site status in its entirety in 1979.
Iberia offers two direct daily flights to Dubrovnik from Madrid from 13,000 Avios (return flight)
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1 Old town: a stroll
From Lovrijenac, the mediaeval St Lawrence Fortress perched on a cliff and opposite the ancient walls (above), you can contemplate the city’s entire historical centre and stroll at leisure through its sites of interest, such as the Sponza Palace, the Rector’s Palace, the Franciscan Monastery, the Church of St Blaise, the Church of St Dominic and the Big Onofrio’s Fountain.
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2 The food: Konoba Dubrava
Just ten minutes from the walled centre, Konova Dubrava is located at the top of Mount Srd. At 412m high, its rural setting contrasts with the city below. Using ingredients from nearby farms and towns, its cuisine offers traditions such as peka, an ancestral method of slow cooking meat or octopus over embers. Preparation can take up to three hours, so booking is recommended.
To enjoy the best views, ride to the top of Mount Srd on the Dubrovnik cable car. A return trip costs about 30 euros for adults and 8 for kids.
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3 A beach: Banje
Calm turquoise waters and a stunning location next to the Ploce Gate have made this small urban beach one of the city’s most popular. Locals meet up to enjoy the sun and swimming during the day and keep on going after sunset, when the beach bars liven things up with music and cocktails.
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4 Where to sleep: Villa Agave
Few viewpoints provide finer vistas than at this exclusive accommodation located on a clifftop facing Dubrovnik’s historic centre and almost reaching to the city’s old port. Built from the ruins of the 16th-century St Lazarus Chapel, Villa Agave was the summer home of the English archaeologist Arthur Evans in the late 19th century.
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5 On excursion: Lokrum Island
Only 600m separate Lokrum island from the old port of Dubrovnik. It was uninhabited until 1023, when Benedictine monks built an abbey to settle here. It offers numerous natural and architectural attractions (from the monastery to a 19th-century fort) despite being just 2sqkm. Numerous legends say the island was visited by personalities such as the English king Richard the Lionheart and Empress Sissi of Austria. Visit the island’s Botanical Garden, home to more than 500 species from every continent and a colony of peacocks brought from the Canary Islands in the 19th century.
