Dubrovnik (Italian: Ragusa), is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the center of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. The patron saint of the city is Sveti Vlaho (Saint Blaise), whose statues are seen around the city. He has an importance similar to that of St. Mark the Evangelist to Venice. One of the larger churches in city is named after Saint Blaise. The city boasts of many old buildings, such as the Arboretum Trsteno, the oldest arboretum in the world, dating back to before 1492. Also, the third oldest European pharmacy is located in the city, which dates back to 1317 (and is the only one still in operation today). It is located at Little Brothers monastery in Dubrovnik. Stradun or Placa (Stradone or Corso) is the main street of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The limestone-paved pedestrian street runs some 300 metres through the Old Town, the historic part of the city surrounded by the Walls of Dubrovnik Dubrovački trubaduri – Ulicama moga grada.
dubrovnik.inyourpocket.com Stradun is the unofficial name for Dubrovnik’s main street Placa that joins the two main entrances to the Old Town at Ploče in the east and Pile in the west. The name comes from the Italian “strada”, meaning “street”. With its shining limestone flags and the uniform baroque buildings that line it, it is itself one of the best known sights of Dubrovnik. It’s the place people bump into and chat with friends on their daily business, and dress up for a stroll in the evening or at coffee time. For more on Dubrovnik and Croatia check out Dubrovnik In Your Pocket http
dubrovnik.inyourpocket.com On the extreme east of the Prijeko strip, this little restaurant stands out from its neighbours for its family-runatmosphere and homestyle cooking – that’s why you’ll often find the locals lunching here and In Your Pocket founder Matthias Lüfkens. For more on Dubrovnik and Croatia check out Dubrovnik In Your Pocket http
dubrovnik.inyourpocket.com Almost two kilometers in length, Dubrovnik’s city walls are among the best preserved and most attractive on this planet, and a walk along them is an absolute must. The defenses were built between the 8th and the 16th century. The fact that on the land side they are almost 6m thick in places shows their primary purpose as defense against attack from the mountainous hinterland — the Ottoman Empire, for example, lay just a few kilometers inland. The walls were strengthened by myriad towers and bastions, and were never breached — the Republic of Dubrovnik only fell after Napoleon’s armies were invited in on condition that they would respect its independence. Two further fortresses, Revelin to the east and Lovrijenac, on a headland just west of the Old Town, provided additional strategic defense. Revelin is a venue for concerts during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Lovrijenac is one of the most atmospheric venues of the festival, with traditional performances of Hamlet taking place under the stars. Your ticket to the city walls includes entrance to Lovrijenac, and its well worth visiting. It was for some time used as a prison, and is surrounded by delightful parkland with some of the best views of the city, a great picnic spot. For more on Dubrovnik and Croatia check out Dubrovnik In Your Pocket http
dubrovnik.inyourpocket.com In Your Pocket founder Matthias Lüfkens hikes up mount Srđ above Dubrovnik, Croatia for stunning views of Dubrovnik’s Old Town and the southern Croatian islands. There is also a museum in the Imperial Fort about Croatia’s homeland war from 1991 – 1995 with captivating photos and videos of the siege and shelling of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The cable car, destroyed during the war, has recently been renovated and once again ferries tourists up Mount Srđ. For more on Dubrovnik and Croatia check out Dubrovnik In Your Pocket http
www.inyourpocket.com There is a small rocky beach to cool down right at the foot of Dubrovnik’s old city walls. For more on Dubrovnik and Croatia check out Dubrovnik In Your Pocket dubrovnik.inyourpocket.com
dubrovnik.inyourpocket.com The Jadrolinija Ferry “Marko Polo” leaves the ferry terminal in Dubrovnik. Jadrolinija is the main company in Croatia that caters for public transportation towards the islands. It must be said that the schedule for ferry lines can get a bit complicated. This same ferry crashed into the island of Sit on 24 October 2009. For more on Dubrovnik and Croatia and getting around check out Dubrovnik In Your Pocket http
www.inyourpocket.com Zagreb In Your Pocket editor Kristina Kovač tours Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. From the train station on King Tomislav Square (Trg kralja Tomislava) along the Green Horseshoe (Zelena potkova) to the central square Count Jelačić Square (Trg bana Josipa Jelačića). From the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary across the Central Market Dolac to Tkalčićeva street, through the Oktogon to Flower Square (Cvijetni trg Petra Preradovića). With the funicular up to the Upper Town (Gornij Grad) and a relaxing walk along Strossmayer Promenade (Strossmayerovo šetalište) before the big bang from the canon on Lotrščak Tower (Kula Lotrščak). Further and deeper into the upper town past the political heart of the country with the government and parliament buildings surrounding St. Mark’s Church (Crkva sv. Marka) with its much photographed tiled roof. Down through the Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata) before the lamplighter turns on the gas lights in the Old Town. For more about Zagreb check out Zagreb In Your Pocket http
www.inyourpocket.com Zadar In Your Pocket editor Kristina Kovač tours the main sites of Zadar. Entering through the Land Gate past the Five Wells Square (Trg 5 bunara) to the Bridge Gate and towards Narodni Trg (People’s Square) with the City Sentinel (Gradska straža) and the City Lodge (Gradska loža) along Široka ulica better known as Kalelarga, Zadar’s beloved main throroughfare to the Roman Forum, the largest on this side of the Adriatic Sea up St Anastasia’s Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Stošije) to the Riva waterfront, the Sea Organ (Morske orgulje) and the Greeting to the Sun. For more information on sightseeing in Zadar check out Zadar In Your Pocket: zadar.inyourpocket.com