Activities in Dubrovnik

Legend has it that in the year 614, a group of brave refugees from Epidaurus (present-day Cavtat) fled their town in fear of the devastating Avars and sought refuge on a small islet called Laus, which in Greek means rock. According to ancient historians, the Greeks founded Epidaurum as early as the 7th century BC, and it quickly became a renowned center of trade during the Roman Empire. However, archaeological findings suggest that an even older Epidaurum was destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century, with some parts believed to have sunk beneath the sea. These sunken ruins are now being excavated and studied by experts.

Despite these trials and tribulations, the settlers on the islet of Laus persevered and worked hard to build a new home for themselves. Dubrovnik has been a tough cookie since the 9th century when it survived a 15-month siege by the Saracens. After Byzantine rule, Dubrovnik was recognized as a strong competitor by Venice and Byzantium. Dubrovnik showed its diplomatic skills by recognizing the authority of these two powers in turns. Dubrovnik reached its peak in maritime affairs and expanded under the sovereignty of the Croatian-Hungarian state until 1526. The aristocracy held all the governing positions, but wealthy citizens formed brotherhoods like the respected Antunini and the Jewish Lazarini. Freedom was the most important value, guarded and fought for by the citizens. Dubrovnik sailors were trading all over the world, and even when paying a tribute to the Ottoman Empire, Dubrovnik still stood proud.

In the olden days, Dubrovnik was just a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Lord Byron couldn’t resist calling it ‘the Pearl of the Adriatic’ during his grand tour. Later, Dubrovnik dazzled famous writers like Bernard Shaw and Agatha Christie with its perfectly preserved baroque charm.

But it wasn’t until the second Yugoslav period after 1945 that Dubrovnik really took off as a popular tourist destination. Millions of people from all over the world flocked to see the medieval splendor. Dubrovnik’s importance in the tourism industry was recognized when it was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979. And to protect its reputation, the authorities demilitarized the city as they felt that military presence could put a damper on the tourism industry. The income from tourism even allowed for major developments in the city’s infrastructure, like the airport.

Dubrovnik’s historical borderland status made it vulnerable to the break-up of Yugoslavia, and in the early 90s, the aggression caused by the war posed a serious existential threat to the city. Over two-thirds of the town’s historic buildings were hit by artillery, with the cobbled streets and medieval walls suffering hundreds of direct hits for the first time in history. Fires caused severe damage to historic palaces such as Sponza and Rector’s Palace, St Blaise’s church, the Franciscan monastery, and the Amerling and Onofrio fountain. The reconstruction cost totaled around $10 million.
Thanks to the successful reconstruction effort organized by an international organization led by UNESCO, Dubrovnik has regained its former splendor and stands proud today.