DUBROVNIK 459

decorate the side altars, while
the Assumption (c. 1513) by
Titian dominates the main
altar. Alongside the church
is the Cathedral Treasury
(Riznica Katedrale), famous
for its collection of about
200 reliquaries. It includes
the arm of St Blaise, which
dates from the 13th century,
and the Holy Cross, which
contains a fragment of the
cross on which Jesus is said
to have been crucified.
The tondo Virgin of the
Chair (c. 1513) is thought
to have been painted by
Raphael and is a copy of
the master piece which is
now in Florence.
The treasury also has
an extraordinary collection
of sacred objects in gold,
including a pitcher and basin
with decoration showing the
flora and fauna of Dubrovnik.

P Sponza Palace

Tel (020) 321 032. # 8am–3:30pm

Mon–Fri, 8am–2pm Sat.

To the left of the Square

of the Loggia stands the

splendid Sponza Palace

(Palača Sponza), remodelled

between 1516 and 1522. It

has an elegantly sculpted

Renaissance loggia on the

ground floor, a Venetian

Gothic three-mullioned

window on the first floor –

evidence of its 14th-century

origins – and a statue of

St Blaise on the upper

floor. Once the city’s

P Ploče Gate

Luža.

To the northeast of the Sponza

Palace is the Ploče Gate (Vrata

Od Ploča), which faces a small

port and is preceded by the

poly gonal Asimov Tower.

Dating from the 1300s, the

gate is a com plex structure

with a double defence sys tem,

reached by a stone bridge. A

moat sepa rates it from the

Revelin Fort (Tvrđava Revelin).

Designed in 1538 by Antonio

Ferramolino, the fort was the

last of the defences to be built.

Based on a penta gonal ground-

plan, it has walls enclos ing

three large rooms and a ter-

race. Such was its strength that

the city’s art treasures were

brought here for safe keeping

during times of trouble.

• Fort of St John
  Maritime Museum Tel (020) 323

904. 
     

     Apr–Oct: 9am–6pm Tue–

     
     

     Sun; Nov–Mar: 9am–4pm Tue–Sun.
     & Aquarium Tel (020) 323 978.

     
     

     Jun–Sep: 9am–7pm daily;

     
     

     Oct–May: 9am–6pm Mon–Sat. &
     The imposing Fort of St John
     (Tvrđa sv Ivana) was once the
     city harbour’s main defence, a
     part of a chain that stretched
     from here to the Tower of St
     Luke (Kula sv Luke), along
     the walls.
     The upper areas of the fort
     house the Maritime Museum
     (Pomorski muzej), where the
     seafaring history of the city
     is told through displays of

     
     

Sponza Palace and Clock Tower

model ships, prints, diaries

and portraits. On the lower

level is an Aquarium (Akvarij)

with an assortment of

Mediterranean marine life,

including sea horses. At the

top is the circular Bokar Fort

(Tvrđava Bokar), built by

Michelozzo Michelozzi.

custom house, it was the Mint

in the 14th century and now

houses the State Archives.

Dubrovnik’s tiled roofs as seen from Ploče Gate