Dubrovnik is known for its fascinating history and macabre tales, creating an eerie yet captivating atmosphere. Locals highly recommend taking part in the Ghosts and Mystery Walking Tour for an interactive experience combining spine-chilling tales with historical knowledge.
Lokrum Island, just a ten-minute boat ride away from Dubrovnik, features an abandoned monastery, botanical garden and hilltop fort. Additionally, Lush Lokrum makes an ideal active trip destination with kayaking along city walls or exploring cliff jumps, swimming and snorkelling opportunities aplenty!
1. Franciscan Monastery
Are you searching for spiritual guidance? Look no further than Franciscan Monastery in Ireland – built in 14th century and boasting paintings, music archives and Europe’s oldest pharmacy (most of its treasures were unfortunately lost during an earthquake and fire in 1667).
What remains is a stunning church and monastery complex with a magnificent cloister, decorated in both Renaissance and Gothic styles. Both cloisters offer peaceful beauty with double arches and double columns. The upper Renaissance-styled cloister was constructed during the 1300s while its lower counterpart dates from 1300s with both styles present in its decoration.
Church itself boasts magnificent artwork and an eye-catching baroque facade, and is dedicated to Saint Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint. According to legend, St. Blaise warned Dubrovnik Senate of an impending Venetian invasion and helped prepare it for defense.
This monastery’s library is an invaluable collection of religious, historical and scientific documents from its library collection of religious manuscripts written in Latin and ancient Greek, but there are also books covering math, music and astronomy topics. Additionally, visiting its Reliquary with saintly bones enclosed within is worth your while as it features painted and sculptural decoration along with biblical descriptions about their lives; all serve to remind us to live life to its fullest.
Wanderlust Journeys’ tour of Dubrovnik can provide you with an engaging way to gain more insight into its rich history and architecture. Join our travel writing and photography trip and gain more insight into this stunning medieval city – take a look at upcoming trips here!
Pile Gate in the Old Town provides access to Franciscan Monastery. As this route is car-free, this walk offers the chance to discover and appreciate its beauty while discovering plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. If you want a local product shopping experience, head to KAWA Boutique just outside Ploce Gate – they offer unique clothing from young Croatian designers, along with jewelry, tote bags, ceramics, cosmetics nicely packaged cosmetics olive oil and even potency spirits like rakija (a powerful spirit).
2. Daksa Island
Dubrovnik’s smallest island is no more an island, but instead the site of an unspeakably tragic tale. On 24 October 1944, 53 men accused of Nazi collaboration were brought to Daksa and summarily executed; their bodies left to rot on this tiny islet without burial or mourning by Partisans, while remaining residents in Dubrovnik were told that anyone searching for relatives in Elaphite Islands would suffer similar fate.
Daksa Island massacre had gone undetected for 60 years, until 2009 when forensic scientists began excavating mass graves on the island. Forensic experts discovered crosses, rosaries and priest’s collars among the remains, indicating some victims could have been Catholic clergymen.
Daksa Island lies far off-the-grid today, featuring remnants of an abandoned Franciscan monastery and lighthouse ruins. Few visitors ever venture out here – even seagulls seem to avoid it – yet it remains one of Dubrovnik’s most mysterious spots–some believe ghosts may haunt it!
For those interested in hearing dark and macabre tales of Dubrovnik, book a KAWA walking tour starting near its graveyard and traveling throughout its suburbs and cliffs while hearing tales from its past. These 90-minute excursions explore both Dubrovnik’s grim history as well as tales about its ghostly present. As an added perk, enjoy breathtaking afterglow views of the Old Town from Boninovo Cliff before strolling Gradac Park before arriving back at sunset in front of city walls. Additionally, KAWA sells unique clothing and accessories designed by young Croatian designers – you may pick up stylish T-shirts or tote bags, locally made cosmetics or rakija from young Croatian creators to support local creativity while supporting Croatian creativity! You can find their shop outside Ploce Gate, just behind Maritime Museum
3. Fort Lovrijenac
Dubrovnik’s best spot for an eveningcap is not a cocktail bar or karaoke joint; rather it is an impressive castle believed to have its own ghost. An imperial cavalry colonel reported in 1897 seeing an unknown young girl ghost wander between its chapel and ice cellar of this castle; later she has been seen numerous times by various witnesses, including modern tourists.
Fort Lovrijenac in Dubrovnik is an impressive fortress and one of Croatia’s greatest wonders. Standing tall atop a steep rocky outcrop west of Old City and protected by ten cannons, this impressive triangular fortress was used as a refuge during storms by medieval sailors; today its walls stand 12m thick on three sides an enemy could attack but just 60cm on city side; this was done to prevent fortress commanders becoming too powerful and seizing power by city based authorities.
Construction was completed within just three months and took its name from its Latin inscription above its entrance: NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO (Freedom cannot be bought with all the gold in the world). At one point during its 11th-century history, Venetian forces tried unsuccessfully to take control of it; but due to its strategic position and powerful people of Dubrovnik it held strong.
Modernly, the fortress attracts tourists and locals who can appreciate its spectacular views over the city from its rocky perch. But its mysteries run deep. At one end of the fortress lies a small chapel which was once used as a place of worship and which has long been thought to be haunted by an unidentified spirit allegedly haunting it from another life lost here.
Dubrovnik offers plenty of dark history for visitors looking to immerse themselves in its deep past, and small group walking tours provide the ideal way to do it. Starting near the main suburban graveyard at dusk, this 90-minute guided walk through spooky corners, Renaissance-era palaces, and other places. Your guide shares macabre stories and legends to provide a deeper understanding of Dubrovnik than what can be gained from simply reading guide books or taking Game Of Thrones tours alone.
4. Pile Gate
Pile Gate (Ploce Gate or Gate of Saint Blaise) is one of Dubrovnik’s main entrances into its charming medieval city walls. Once equipped with a drawbridge to keep out pirates at nightfall, nowadays this timeless gateway remains open and welcomes visitors who wish to experience its timeless awe.
As you approach the inner gates, you will discover a statue of St Blaise – the city’s patron saint – as well as mechanical counter weights used to raise and lower bridge at night.
Once inside, once through the outer gates, you’ll take in stunning views of Stradun – Dubrovnik’s main promenade – where you can choose to turn left for a stroll along city walls or go right for St Blaise Church (which may even look familiar from Game of Thrones filming!). From here, take your pick between walking along or alongside them for your adventure!
Simeone della Cava constructed the inner Ploce gates in 1450; later Ivan of Siena expanded them further in 19th-century. These are the only gates rebuilt post-collapse of Venetian Republic.
There are various means of reaching the Pile Gate, including budget-conscious airport bus rides or taxi services. But we suggest making use of the Dubrovnik Pass instead to save both money and time! This pass includes tickets to city walls as well as numerous top attractions with entry included and even includes free shuttle bus transportation between them all!
Dubrovnik holds plenty of surprises for visitors looking to explore a mysterious castle, experience its long and rich history or simply soak up its timeless beauty! Set off on your own adventure by visiting its fascinating sights – your experience in Dubrovnik may inspire future travels around the globe!