City Sights
The Stradun and the Large Onofrian Fountain
The main thoroughfare of the city going West to East is the Stradun.
At the West end just inside the Pile Gate is the round covered Large Onofrio’s Fountain with the Franciscan Priory to the left. At the far end is its sister: the Small Onofrio Fountain. Both were constructed in the 15th century by Onofrio della Cava by pumping water some 8 miles away, from Rijeka Dubrovacka – a significant engineering feat at the time.
Along the Stradun, beyond the Franciscan Friary are the main tourist shops.
Dubrovnik 2011 Photos:
There is a very relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere in the Stradun at night.
In the 14th century, the Franciscans were given the task of protecting the West gate of the city (Pile Gate) from heathens and the Dominicans were given the same task at the East gate (Ploce Gate).
The Pieta above the entrance miraculously survived the great earthquake of 1667, when the rest of the church was destroyed.
There are some photos of the Franciscan Priory here.
This flagpole standing prominently outside St Blaise church incorporates a statue of Orlando at its base. Orlando (or Roland in English) is the hero of Ariosto’s epic poem Orlando furioso (first published in complete form in 1532). My guide book states that this statue was erected over a century earlier in 1419. Strange! Apparently a statue in this location was blown down in 1825 and 50 years later the current monument was found (created surely!) & erected in the current position. It certainly is not 500 years old – but then tourists are not supposed to question urban myths!
Sponza Palace, a very pretty Gothic building, reminiscent of a Venetian palace. There are some more photos of the Palace here.
St Blaise Church. St Blaise is the patron saint of Dubrovnik. He was a 3rd century Armenian Bishop with no connection to the area whatsoever. However he is credited with saving the city from the dastardly Venetians in the 10th century for which the citizens have been grateful ever since. This is a small charming Baroque church.
On one of the days we visited there was a wedding at the church. Nice to know that these churches still contribute to the local community’s life.
The Small Onofrian Fountain. The opposite end of the Stradun from the Large Onofrian Fountain. Now a health hazard for humans but not for pigeons.
The Rector’s Palace is the city’s main civic building and the main museum to visit. More photos of it here.
I think that one of the main charms of old Dubrovnik is all its traffic-free alleyways. More photos of the Alleyways here.
Built after the Great Quake of 1667, the Jesuit St Ignatius church is the grandest Baroque church in Dubrovnik. These steps remind me of a mini version Rome’s Spanish Steps and lead up to a plaza with the Jesuit church & school.
There are more photos of this church here.
By the Dominican Friary are is this Balustraded Stairway. Unfortunately the friars were easily distracted by the sight of the ladies’ ankles. Hence the modesty boarding.
Dubrovnik exists because of its fortified harbour. In this photo you can just see the Napoleonic fort atop of Mount Srd (along with a non-Napoleonic tele-communications mast. There are more photos of the harbour here.