Croatia! Day 8 and Ancient History

Croatia was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire until the end of WWI when the country of Yugoslavia was formed.  After WWII, Yugoslavia became a communist state under Marshall Tito before declaring independence in 1991 which resulted in four long years of war... more on that another day.   About the size of West Virginia, Croatia is now a democracy.

Dubrovnik…even the names sounds lovely….is located at the southern tip of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea.  This UNESCO site is known for its medieval city and monuments which are surrounded now by a vibrant urban city.  We are so proud and rightly so of the Historic Triangle in Virginia, but Europe and especially a place like the old city of Dubrovnik that once rivaled the beauty and wealth of Venice just oozes history.

After a huge buffet breakfast…What do they do with all the leftovers?…we boarded a city bus for a tour of the old city. Our guide imparted so much information, or maybe I’m in overload, but I’ll share some information and pics.  Then you just have to come see it for yourself!

The castle was started in the 14th century and reinforced several times through the 17th century.  People moving here were requested to bring stones to add to the walls to strengthen the defenses.  Today, the national flag proudly flies over the castle walls.

 

Every city had a patron saint, and Dubrovnik’s was St. Blaise.  His statue holds a model of Dubrovnik’s city walls.

Fresh water from Roman aqueducts flowed into a fountain in the main square. Our guide said you could drink the water, but I see a lot of pigeons flying around!

The Dominican Monastery Museum is filled with frescoes which have been partially restored to show their state before and after restoration.  

  

Also the apothecary, the attached columned cloister…

display stories such as a patient with one side of his face swollen probably from a toothache, and…

…another with his head and extremities squashed by the column.

The clock tower holds a pair of figures who strike the hour with their hammers and repeat this 5 minutes after the hour.  In past centuries, people might miss the beginning of the announcement of the hour.  Repeating the process made sure everyone knew what time it was.

  

There are numerous churches…

  

beautiful stone carvings…

 

exquisite architecture…
   

fabulous paintings…

  

a charming seaport…

  

and even humorous carvings!  

I wander the narrow alleys filled with gift shops, restaurants, and LOTS of other tourists!  This ancient city still has residents who call it home.

The first graffiti documented here was carved into the wall by a priest to some young boys who had bothered him.  He warned them to “remember death”.

This doorway once lead to an orphanage.  There was a rotating platform where an unwanted child usually born out of wedlock could be placed and turned over to the state.  A bell signaled someone within, and the mother could remain anonymous.

Inside the Rector’s Palace, the original clock strikers known as the “green men” are preserved!  

  

This palace is decorated with paintings, many of them in need of restoration, and the doors are open to the outside!  I’m use to temperature and moisture and light controlled rooms with no flash photography.

These armada chests made in different shapes and sizes held money, important documents and other valuables guarded by a series of intricate locks

  



Beautiful Venetian glass graced the windows…

while a handrail was quite literally a hand holding a rail!

Unfortunately, not all history is pleasant to remember nor to see.  There was a major earthquake in 1667 which devastated the city along with the plague in the 18th century which killed 60-70% of the residents.

During the war in the early 1990’s, Dubrovnik suffered damage from shelling as evidenced from pavers that were replaced.  

People have asked questions about the war, but our guide says first we need to understand the history and what came before the conflict started.  More on the war later.

Stephen and Allison were in Croatia with friends on vacation in 2018 during the World Cup.  Croatia’s team exceeded expectations and kept winning games. It was so much fun for Stephen and Allison and friends to join the enthusiastic locals. My son and his friend decided that if Croatia won the World Cup, they would get a tattoo of the Croatian flag on their butts.  Well, Croatia lost in the finals and came in second place winning silver.  I never asked him if that meant he got half of a flag tattoo!

Last night as I was working on my blog, the electricity went out.  I wondered if there was a curfew where they turned the power off!

Walking along the ancient city walls in a must-do when you visit Dubrovnik.  There are lots of steps but plans are to do this in a couple of days.  Tomorrow GJ travels for a day trip to Montenegro or maybe I’m procrastinating climbing those stairs!