Enjoying Dubrovnik...

The golden walled city of Dubrovnik is one of the most celebrated beauty spots of the Mediterranean. It is a harmonious showcase of art and civil, religious and military architecture from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Ragusa was one of the great trading powers of the eastern Mediterranean from the Renaissance to the Napoleonic era.  Sidelined from history after that, it was spared ugly industrial development and survived intact, a beautiful city proud of its history and culture. It became fashionable first as an exotic winter destination and gained in popularity after the Second World War, when the inauguration of the Libertas summer festival of theatre and drama brought the city to the attention of a wider international public. The Libertas Festival continues to dominate the life of the city for seven weeks at the height of the summer season (July/August), and sets Dubrovnik apart from the mainstream of summer holiday destinations.     

During the most recent Balkan war Dubrovnik was repeatedly bombarded and suffered terrible damage to its marble streets and old roofs. But its citizens refused to leave, and the city was quickly restored after the war, to magnificent effect.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is leading the revival in Croatia’s fortunes as the fashionable Mediterranean destination of the moment.   

Don’t be in a rush to enjoy Dubrovnik. The highlight of any visit to Croatia deserves more than a day or two of your time. As well as walking the ramparts and visiting its monuments, take the time to stroll at leisure through the old city, enjoying the bustle and vibrant cultural life of a fashionable Mediterranean resort. The city is also an excellent base for excursions. Boat trips to islands such as Mljet and Korcula are easily arranged. Korcula’s delightful medieval village is a smaller and more tranquil version of Dubrovnik. 
Of the three nearby Elafiti islands, Lopud has a lovely sandy beach.