Resting on the cliffside of the Dalmatian coast, the “Pearl of the Adriatic” sits, its orange, clay tiles and honey-coloured stone warming in the sun.
It is the seaside city of Dubrovnik.
After first becoming a formidable seapower in the 13th century, Dubrovnik developed under the Byzantine Empire and later under the Venetian Republic. It then enjoyed a long stretch (between the 14th and 18th centuries) wherein it ruled itself, but that was not to last. In the two centuries that followed, it was passed around like a soccer ball—from Napoleon to the Kingdom of Dalmatia, from the Austrian Empire to Yugoslavia—until it won its independence in 1991.
Today, Dubrovnik is a thriving city like no other, and a tourist destination that belongs in the top tier of all Mediterranean destinations… and for good reason.
Dubrovnik’s crystal clear waters are enchanting—its high walls, breathtaking—and its narrow streets, spellbinding. It has an ethereal charm that captivates all who walk through its old city gate, and an unmistakable magic that has made it a desirable location for filming both movies and television.
We could not have been more impressed.
After ditching our packs, we set out to walk the battlements of the old city.
From on top of the high walls one is able to get an impressive view of the orange tile roofs, the domes and spires, and in numerous stretches, the sea. If, like us, you wonder whether there are refreshments on the battlements as you sweat through your shirt, you are in luck, as someone (who is now considered the “smartest person in the world”) built a small eatery on the side facing the sea that serves cold beer and Prosecco.
Down on the streets, the atmosphere of the city is just as amazing—you hear the sounds of cutlery on plates around bistro tables, the soft click of shoe heels on smooth stone, and the joyful din of those gathered on the steps of churches or around public fountains.
And everywhere there are shops and restaurants, lanterns and stone, shuttered windows and clocktowers, white wine and sparkling eyes.
It is a dream beside the sea.
