Heaven Again

A Center Of Mediterranean Trade Linking The Balkans To The ReMainder Of Europe, The Croatian Town Flourished Throughout The Centuries.

Described as “heaven on earth” by travelers during the past, the important port town Dubrovnik, once an independent city-state, presented direct competition to Venice, Italy.

A center of Mediterranean trade linking the Balkans to the rest of Europe, the Croatian city flourished across the centuries. It contained robust fortifications – 4-to-6-meter walls totally enclosing the old town, 2 kilometers of which stand today.

Walking on top of these menacing walls, circling the appreciated history contained inside, offers a rare chance to take a step back in history. Standing beside one of the cannons, looking out into the sea and surrounding islands, spook frigates and merchant ships come forth from the light and crystal-clear waters.

Dubrovnik was in a position to bear any intruders and keep its independence and strength until surrendering to Napoleon’s forces, which was the sole resort to stop the continuing siege by Russian forces.

Later , Dubrovnik was given away to Habsburgs ; amalgamated into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918 ; occupied by Nazis during the Second World War ; and turned into a republic of the commie Yugoslavia following the war.

It ultimately gained its independence in 1991, only to be attacked by Serbian-Montenegrin forces, which held the town under a siege for seven months, constantly dropping shells, killing civilians and damaging over fifty percent the important design. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, most of the damage endured by the old city was repaired, springing the history back to life.

Today, Dubrovnik is one of the most well liked holiday maker destinations in Croatia. Its old town, which feels more like one big house, with narrow, stone-paved streets ; its extraordinary natural harbour surrounding the rocky cliffs of its peninsula ; its clean water, in which boats appear to hang in the air ; and its cultural and non secular sites all make Dubrovnik a heavenly city. Relatively low lodging costs and cheap airfares make it even more attractive.

The first task on entering the old city is getting on top of of the walls, making your way around while being up to 25 meters above the ground, topping at the multi-leveled roofs with funky chimneys and busy streets beneath, and looking out into the majestic sea. The fortification system includes 3 forts, 6 bastions, 16 towers, 2 corner defenses and 2 citadels.

The main street, Placa or Stradun, stretches between 2 city gates, offering the biggest open-air gathering space. The famous Onofrio fountain sits at one end, while the bell tower, erected in 1444, stands at the other with 2 twin jacks, Maro and Baro, striking its bell.

The best way to enjoy the museums, studios and other cultural monuments, including the city walls, is through “Dubrovnik Card,” which costs much less than all the admission fees combined and can save time. The Maritime Museum and Franciscan Priory – home to the third oldest chemist in Europe that is still functioning – are a few of the profitable stops.

Dubrovnik is an oasis of traditional history, rich culture and breathtaking nature. Every visitor falls in love with each one of the multiple dimensions to this city, most of which can hardly find a rival. With Italy and Greece being favored nearby destinations, it is worth venturing a bit east or north, respectively, to enjoy another necessary corner of the Mediterranean culture as reported tagza.com.

Dubrovnik is a remarkably well-preserved example of a late-medieval walled town, with a regular street layout. Among the exceptional medieval, Renaissance and Baroque monuments within the magnificent fortifications and the monumental gates to the city are the City Hall (now the Rector’s Palace), dating from the 11th century ; the Franciscan Monastery (finished in the 14th century, but now principally Baroque in appearance) with its imposing church ; the extensive Dominican Monastery ; the cathedral (rebuilt after the 1667 tremor) ; the customs house (Sponza), the eclectic appearance of which exposes the indisputable fact that it is the work of a few hands over many years ; and a number of other Baroque churches,eg that of St Blaise (patron saint of the town).

The first World heritage site consisted solely of the defences and the intra-mural city. It was later extended to include the Pile medieval business suburb, a planned development of the 15th century, and the Lovrijenac Fortress, located on a cliff, which was doubtless begun as early as the 11th century, but owes its present appearance to the 15th and 16th centuries. Also included were the Lazarets, built in the early 17th century to house potential plague-carriers from abroad, the late 15th-century Kase moles, built to protect the port against south-easterly storms, and the Revelin Fortress, dating from 1449, which was built to command the city moat on its northern side.

The island of Lokrum lies to the south-east of Dubrovnik, some five hundred m from the coast. In 1023 it turned into a Benedictine abbey, the first of a couple of in the Republic of Dubrovnik. It was repeatedly enlarged in succeeding centuries, passing to the Congregation of St Justina of Padua in the late 15th century, when a new monastery was built in Gothic-Renaissance style to the south of the ruins of the Benedictine establishment. During their occupation of the island in the early 19th century the French started work on the development of the Fort Royal Fortress, which was finished by the Austrians in the 1830s. In 1859 Archduke Maximilian of Austria (later Emperor of Mexico) bought the island with the objective of building a villa in classical style on the ruins of the Benedictine abbey, but only a little part of this work was completed.
Koritni – Heaven Again (Official Music Video)