The angel of the Adriatic: Exploring the real Dubrovnik

Twenty-two years ago, Dubrovnik was under constant attack from land and sea, during the Yugoslavian war. Today this ancient walled city is also subject to a daily siege. Not from hostile Serbian artillery, of course, but from hordes of eager tourists.

On busy days, several thousand passengers spill out of their cruise ships.They flow into the city’s narrow, stone thoroughfares. They visit the secluded Franciscan monastery, the handsome Rector’s Palace - and they stroll up and down the elegant, car-free main street, its flagstones polished to a sheen by centuries of shoes. By 3pm, though, the trippers are all gone, clutching their souvenirs. And those checking in for a longer, more satisfying stay are at liberty to find out what else Dubrovnik has to offer. Set sail anywhere within a five-mile radius, and you’ll find a handsome shoreline hotel or villa. Yes, the war brought devastation to large numbers of buildings in the area in the Nineties, but they have been both re-built and improved.

Oznake: dubrovnik