458 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp502–505 and pp506–507

Rector’s Palace, the administrative centre of Dubrovnik

Impressive dome of Dubrovnik’s

Baroque Cathedral

P Rector’s Palace

Pred Dvorom 1. Tel (020) 323 904.

# summer: 9am–6pm daily;

winter: 9am–2pm daily. &

For centuries, the Rector’s

Palace (Knežev Dvor) was the

political and administrative

cen tre of Ragusa (see p454). It

housed the Upper Council, as

well as the rector’s quarters

and rooms for diplomatic

meet ings and audiences. The

official building, including the

arches and loggias in the inter -

nal courtyard, was designed by

Onofrio della Cava in 1435.

The portico, by Petar Martinov

from Milan, was added in

1465. The Gothic works are
      by the 15th-century architect
      and sculptur Juraj Dalmatinac.
      Concerts are held in the
      court yard dur ing the Festival
      of Dubrovnik.
      The rooms of the palace
      house the interesting Museum
      of Dubrovnik (Dubrovački
      Muzej), which offers an over-
      view of the city’s history
      through furniture, costumes
      and paintings by Venetian and
      Dalmatian artists. It also houses
      the famous “Dubrovnik arm”, a
      unit of measurement, and
      coins from 1305 to 1803.
      Over 15,000 works are on
      display, documenting major
      per iods of artistic and commer-
      cial vitality in the city. There
      are numerous uniforms, once
      worn by the governors and
      nob les. Also of interest are the
      portraits of illustrious per son-
      alities who were born or lived
      in Dubrovnik, whose histories
      are narrated through com mem-
      o rative medals and heraldic
      coats of arms.
      Among the paintings are the
      16th-cen tury Venus and Adonis
      by Paris Bordon and Baptism
      of Christ (1509) by Mihajlo

P Square of the Loggia
Luža.
The political and economic
heart of Dubrovnik, the
Square of the Loggia is situ-
ated at the eastern end of
Stradun and surrounded by
important buildings.
On the eastern side of the
square is a delightful Clock
Tower (Gradski Zvonik),
which was restored in 1929.
The nearby Loggia of the Bell,
with four bells, dates from

1463. The bells were rung to
      alert the citizens when ever
      danger threatened. Next to
      this stands the Main Guard
      House, rebuilt in 1706, after
      the earthquake of 1667. It has
      a large Baroque door way and,
      on the first floor, Gothic mul-
      lioned win dows, reminiscent
      of the earlier build ing con-
      structed on this site in the
      late 15th century.
      Today, the square is a
      popular meeting place, par -
      ticularly around Orlando’s
      Column, which was built by
      Croatian sculptor Antonio
      Ragusino in 1418.

R Church of St Blaise
Luža. Tel (020) 323 887.

8am–noon & 4:30–7pm daily.

The pretty Church of
St Blaise (Crkva sv Vlaha) was
rebuilt at the beginning of the
18th century accord ing to a
17th-cen tury design and
contains many Baroque
works of art.
On the main altar stands
a 15th-century statue of
St Blaise, the patron saint
of Dubrovnik. It depicts the
saint hold ing a model of
the city in the Middle Ages.

The 18th-century Baroque façade of
the Church of St Blaise

R Cathedral and Treasury

Kneza Damjana Jude 1.

# Apr–Oct: 8am–5pm Mon–

Sat, 11am–5pm Sun; Nov–Mar:

8am–noon & 3–5pm Mon–Sat,

11am–noon, 3–5pm Sun.

Cathedral Treasury Tel (020)

323 459. &

The elegant Cathedral

(Velika Gospa) was built

after the earthquake of

1667, following designs by

Italian architects Andrea

Buffalini and Paolo Andreotti.

Inside, there are three aisles

enclosed by three apses.

Paintings by Italian and

Dalmatian artists from the

16th and 18th centuries

Hamzić. Next door is the

Neo-Renaissance Town Hall

(Općina), designed and built

by Emilio Vecchietti in 1863.

It is also home to Gradska

Kavana, a charming café, and

the prestigious Civic Theatre.