DUBROVNIK DIGEST

Konavle

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Konavle is located around 30km  east of Dubrovnik, towards the border with Montenegro. The largest town in the region is Cavtat. At the time of the Roman Empire the town went by the name Epidaurum  and it was larger than Dubrovnik. At the start of the 7th Century the Slavs began to advance, burning and destroying Epidaurum with the population fleeing to a fortress located on the site of today’s Dubrovnik. There they decided to stay and founded the town of Ragusa (Dubrovnik).

 

Cavtat today is a tourist town that is popular with yachts. The five star Hotel Croatia is in Cavtat and is well known as one of Croatia's top hotels. It's a wonderful place for walking and exploring as the old part of town has no hills with a promenade that runs the length of its peninsula. Don't miss the chance to visit the Rectors' Palace which is home to a gallery and collection of Baltazar Bogišić's works. The Church of St. Nicholas is home to sacred treasures collected over decades.

 

Bes ure to visit the Račić family Mausoleum, built in the art deco style, it was designed by the great Croatian sculptor, kipar Ivan Meštrović. There are many artefacts from Roman times to be found in Cavtat – an aqueduct from the 1st Century, the remains of a Roman theatre, city walls and an ancient villa.

 

Cavtat is the birthplace of the great Croatian artist Vlaho Bukovac, who spent the majority of his life in Paris. Unfortunately, not many of his paintings remain in Cavtat today.

 

If you are a lover of diving, don't be surprised if you find an amphora because the area around Cavtat is one of the richest in the whole Mediterranean in terms of Roman amphora.

 

For those that love nature's attractions, we recommend seeing the Šipun cave which is known for its lake and large hall with stalactites.

 

Beyond Cavtat you'll reach Ćilipi, where the airport is located. Since 1967, this place has hosted a folklore show every Sunday which includes the Linđo dance form Dubrovnik. The square in front of St. Nicholas' Church where the dances are perfomed is worth visiting regardless of the day. You'll find the homeland house of Konavle there too where you can see rich ethnographic material.

 

Not far from Ćilipi, near to the airport's runway, you'll find the Đurović cave, a unique natural phenomenon which is 900m2 in size.

 

If you'd like to go swimming while you're in Konavle then it's best to go to one of the most beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean – Pasjača. You'll have to hurry because the sea will 'eat' this man-made beach up soon.

 

If you're not a lover of the beach and prefer gastronomy then that's where Konavoski dvori with its local specialities, comes in. Not only can you enjoy their dishes, but the natural surroundings and exploring the old mills on the River Ljuta too.

 

The fishing village of Molunat is interesting too, nestled right near the border with Montenegro. The Molunat area is ecologically preserved nature with numerous species of medicinal herbs, an exciting, rugged coast line of sandbanks, peninsulas and two islands, with clear waters rich in fish. Prevlaka, on the border with Montenegro, is a similar place, where there is a fortress from the Austro - Hungarian Empire , which controlled the entrance to the Bay of Kotor.

 

Konavle is the ideal place for an active holiday. You can go horse riding, do a jeep safari or have fun at an adrenaline park. There are nice bike trails as well as the option to go hiking on Sniježnica, which is 1234 metres in height.

 

Don't miss the chance to visit the newly restored Sokol Grad fort. It’s located in Dugave and was built in 1391. On the same site remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages were discovered. You can see all these remains in the fort. There are coins from the Illyrian period, ancient spears, remains of the Byzantine Empire, pottery and glassware. The glasses are especially interesting - on the outside they are rough so that they wouldn’t slip out of the drinker’s greasy hand. Glass from the 13th and 14th Century is of high quality and is some of the most expensive from that time. Dubrovnik poet Ilija Crijević sang his famous poem "de Epidauro" in the tower. It is interesting that Crijević was expelled from the tower because he brought his mistress, which was strictly prohibited during the performance of public services.

 

It is interesting that the after the great earthquake of 1667, the Dubrovnik Republic abandoned the fort. Its restoration began only 350 years later. Some of the old guns are displayed today on the fort.