Dubrovnik
The ancient walled town of old Dubrovnik is framed by the deep blue waters of the Adriatic Sea to the south and mountain ranges to the north. It is situated on a dramatic stretch of coastline with ports wedged into its bays and tiny islands just a short ferry ride from the old town.
Dubrovnik was an independent merchant republic for 700 years. The town was hit by a significant earthquake in 1667, which killed around 5,000 inhabitants and destroyed much of the city and infra structure, although the city walls remained standing. The town never fully recovered and it wasn’t until 1806 when Napoleon entered the town and met little resistance that by 1808 after Napoleon’s fall, Dubrovnik became part of the Austro Hungarian Empire in 1815.
It wasn’t until after World War 1 that the town became part of Croatia and just after World war 11 became part of Yugoslavia.
IN 1991/1992 Dubrovnik was caught up in a civil war and had to withstand considerable shelling by the Serbs in a siege that lasted over seven months. The old town inside the city walls suffered much damage, though today, other than the ‘new’ bright red roofs of the buildings the town has been restored to its former beauty.
Dubrovnik is packed with lovely sights, such as the Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan Monastery, the ‘main’ street called the Stradun is full of character and charm, as are the narrow side streets, lined with Renaissance town houses and small restaurants.
Today the town is busy, vibrant and buzzing and a very popular resort for the traveller. We visited in June 2019 and noted on our arrival at least four cruise liners berthed in the terminal. There are lots of small restaurants and bistros to cater for every ones tastes and needs. A walk around the city walls is a must as is dining in the Arsenal and Panorama restaurants.
Lots of eastern European visitors were following the ‘Game of Thrones’ trail, which was partially filmed inside the city walls and the small island of Lokrum just off the coast of the old town.
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Hotel Excelsior
This is a beautiful five star hotel situated overlooking the old town of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic Ocean and our base during our stay in Dubrovnik.
It is just a ten minute walk from the hotel to the Ploce Gate and the medieval city walls of the 'old town'.
Originally known as 'Villa Odak' at the turn of the twentieth century, the hotel has seen many changes, having survived two World wars and the most recent Croatian War for Independence. Over the course of its history, Hotel Excelsior has had numerous renovations. Today the hotel is luxuriously furnished, it has cool minimalistic interiors with retro-chic furnishings.
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