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One activity in Dubrovnik that is highly recommended is walking the walls. Admittance to the wall-walk is on the pricey side and in summer the lack of shade can be brutal but the views are priceless.
At this first stop, gazing across the city rooftops toward the Old Port, Lokrum Island is in the background. The two noticeable towers belong to the Dominican Monastery on the left and the municipal bell tower in the center. To the right of center are two domes marking St. Blaise’s Church and the Jesuit Church:
Incredibly, for 7 months beginning in November 1991, Dubrovnik was shelled by Serbian and Montenegrin forces trying to demoralize Croatian resistance. By July 1992 when a Croatian offensive broke the siege, many buildings inside the walls had been heavily damaged, particularly their rooftops. The medieval town walls, however, proved remarkably sturdy. Today, a tourist would find it difficult to spot the repairs carried out since 1992 with international help but photographs of the damage are readily available.
The Franciscan Cloister is open to view from the wall-walk. Here’s that same statue of St. Francis from a different perspective:
The Minceta Fortress and intrepid climber:
Intrepid climber on top of Minceta Fortress with the Old Port in the background:
Looking down on one of the many alleys that run perpendicular to the Stradun (it’s hard to tell, but there are many stairs):
Looking back at the Minceta Fortress shows that the land side is also well defended:
Small boats in November:
This photo demonstrates how really tall these walls are. On the very top, even with the horizon, Patty’s head and shoulders are barely discernible. (If any sharp-eyed readers suspect editorial mischief in those sparkly stars on the water, they are mistaken. The photographer thinks they are a natural result of the camera’s six-sided aperture opening and the sun angle. Nice, huh?)
We were told by our city guide that at one time anyone wishing to enter the city had to carry in a rock suitable for building! Constructing the walls did not happen overnight.
Together again --- after Patty finished the ice cream bar held firmly in her left hand in the previous photo:
This shot, with Lokrum Island in the background, points out how much privacy is lost by homeowners who live near the wall. The walk is in the foreground. At the left is a private home with a spectacular view out to sea. However, to enjoy it, the owner must open the curtains, allowing passersby to look in:
Actually, it is not that bad as the wall-walk is open only a few hours each day.
Almost back to our starting point, Pile Gate is just off to the right:
A last look at the impressive sea side of Dubrovnik:
