DUBROVNIK OLD CITY WALK, CROATIA, 4K, UHD, 60 FPS

The Adriatic Sea, like a scattering of emeralds, frames this ancient diamond called Dubrovnik, a UNESCO-protected treasure of the world. The city’s streets, sharp as the eye of a needle because of the unusual number of steps leading upwards, are very cosy and welcoming. The terracotta roofs of the old buildings come alive in the gentle Croatian sun.

Dubrovnik was founded by refugees from the neighbouring Greco-Roman colony of Cavtat, later settled by Slavs. The area was named Dubrovnik. Later, the two settlements merged to form the Republic of Dubrovnik, which at one time rivalled even the mighty medieval Venice. The city was a centre not only of trade but also of art and many Croatian writers, scientists and cultural figures lived here.
Dubrovnik is remarkable for its system of fortresses. The walls surrounding the Old City are 6 metres thick and almost 2 kilometres long. They were constructed in the 18th and 12th centuries due to the threat of Turkish and Venetian expansion. The walls provide a beautiful view of the Elaphiti Islands near the coast.

The city walls are complemented by 15 defensive towers, bastions and individual fortresses. These include the 11th century Bokar Fortress, which is the oldest preserved building of its kind in Europe; the 16th century Revelin Fortress and the sea cliff fortress Lovrijenac, where Game of Thrones was filmed.
The main entrance to the walls is inside the Pile Gate, which is decorated with a statue of St. Blasius, the patron saint of Dubrovnik. Behind the Pile Gate is the 15th century Great Onofrio Fountain which served as the city’s drinking water reservoir.

In the 15th century, the Dubrovnik authorities decided to take action to ensure the city had a supply of fresh water. To this end, the Neapolitan architect Onofrio Giorgiano della Cava was invited to the city. He was given the challenging task of building an aqueduct and several city fountains. The aqueduct, one of the first aqueducts of the time in Eastern Europe, was connected to a mountain spring in the nearby Shumet valley. The other terminus of the aqueduct was a large fountain. Two of the fountains created by della Cava in Dubrovnik bear his name – the Great and Small Onofrio Fountains. The most impressive of these is the Great Fountain, which is located in Stradun Street in front of the Church of St. Spas. It’s a massive structure with 16 facets adorned with carved inlays. The fountain is crowned by a huge dome created by Milanese artist Petar Martinov. Even today, several functioning fountain taps gush clear spring water from the same mountain spring.
On the square with the fountain there is also the convent of St. Clara, which has functioned as an orphanage since the 15th century and was the first institution of its kind in the world. The town also boasts one of the three oldest pharmacies in Europe, which have been preserved since 1317.

The city bell tower is a tall clock and bell tower located in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. The bell tower is well visible from the harbour and is one of the recognizable symbols of the city.

The bell tower in Dubrovnik was built in 1444 by local craftsmen. Its architectural style is a strange mixture of Renaissance and Gothic – the appearance of the tower stands out from the other buildings in the Old Town. The bell tower is 31 metres high. The copper dial was made by the Dubrovnik artist Matko Junčić – he also created the two copper figures called the “Maro” and “Boro”, who strike the bell with hammers.

For a long time, the bell tower faithfully fulfilled its function, but at the beginning of the twentieth century the structure was severely damaged by an earthquake, and in 1906 the old bell tower was demolished. However, the people of Dubrovnik so vigorously protested against the demolition of the tower that a new building was constructed on the old design and on the same site.

The Dubrovnik city bell tower is extremely popular with tourists and crowds gather in front of the tower at noon to listen to the ringing of the old bell – one of the many local traditions.

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