Travel - Croatia
A vision of loveliness: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Aasma Day visits Dubrovnik in Croatia and finds it is a tourist’s dream.
LORD Byron described Dubrovnik as “the Pearl of the Adriatic” while George Bernard Shaw called it “Paradise on Earth”.
With such lavish praise heaped on the place, visitors could be forgiven for fearing it might fall short of expectations.
Happily, even at first glace, it soon becomes apparent that with its towering stone walls, marble streets and beautiful baroque buildings, Dubrovnik is a city that is not just aesthetically pleasing, but steeped in a rich and fascinating history.
There’s no shortage of top class hotels in and around Dubrovnik and the four star Hotel President located on the coast on the Babin Kuk peninsula just a short drive from Dubrovnik’s Old Town is no exception with its breathtaking beach views, spacious rooms and friendly staff.
In a novel twist, the hotel has an exterior lift which takes you to your desired floor and has an open view of the hotel, sea and private beach making for a unique and charming experience.
Ideally situated for visiting Croatia’s many destinations, the hotel proved to be a great base and was close enough to the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik while remaining wonderfully quiet.
The Old Town of Dubrovnik is full of sightseeing delights with its magnificent walls surrounding cobbled streets and terracotta-topped buildings and it is home to many exceptional cultural and historical monuments .
Dubrovnik was one of the centres of the development of Croatian language and literature and was home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians and physicists.
But although the UNESCO World Heritage site is centuries old, it is far from old-fashioned and as well as monasteries, museums and palaces, there are plenty of intimate cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.
Walking the ramparts gives a superb view over the old city as well as of the picturesque port which is always bustling with the arrival of spiralling numbers of cruise ships.
Although there is plenty to see and do in Dubrovnik itself, there is so much more to explore just a drive away.
Highlights include Peljesac, the second largest peninsula in Croatia, located between Neretva and Mali Ston Channel midway between Dubrovnik and Split. Peljesac has a striking landscape of ancient olive groves, and fig and lemon trees bordering the blue Adriatic Sea and is famous for its wines Dingac, Postup and Plavac Mali.
Nearby is Orebic, a town which takes its name from a 16th Century family of sea captains and was primarily built as a defence against the Turks. Famous for its seafaring past, Orebic is known as “the town of sea captains” and many of its old charming Baroque houses still line the seafront today.
Ston is another interesting place to visit as it is famous for one of the longest fortifications in Europe - a 5km wall connecting Ston to Mali Ston, as well as for the cultivation of some of the largest oysters and mussels in the world.
Another popular target for sightseers is Trsteno arboretum in the village of Trsteno which is about 30km from Dubrovnik. It is a magnificent botanic garden where Dubrovnik noble families built summer residences in the 15th and 16th centuries.
For me, one of the loveliest places near Dubrovnik is the small resort of Cavtat, which is a 30 minute drive south of Dubrovnik and is a picturesque place with a pretty harbour. It feels more “local than Dubrovnik and is a quieter alternative to the city.
When it comes to eating out, there is a myriad of choice ranging from rustic charm to silver service. Seafood is a highlight with specialities including black and white seafood risotto and oysters. For traditional Croatian fare try one of the restaurants in the Konavle region with delicacies such as roast lamb and veal cooked under iron bells and covered with hot coals.
For details on the Hotel President, visit: www.valamar.com/dubrovnik-hotel-president
Call the Croatian National Tourist Office: 020 85637979 or visit: www.croatia.hr
Aasma Day flew to Dubrovnik with Jet2.com. Flights depart from Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford. Prices from £29.99 one way including taxes. Visit Jet2.com and for package holidays to Croatia, visit: Jet2holidays.com.
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