Six Ways to Spend Two Days in Dubrovnik

When George Bernard Shaw first saw the ancient walled city on the Adriatic, he was smitten. “Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik,” declared the famed Irish playwright. Founded in 7^th century B.C. and rivaling Venice for sea power influence since the 13^th century, this gorgeous and beguiling city of 45,000 has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. The magnificent setting on the southern coast of Croatia, close to the border of Montenegro, is a magnet for Mediterranean cruisers and others who want a longer visit.

A major earthquake in 1667 flattened much of the community but it was rebuilt mainly in Baroque style. The compact Old Town, surrounded by a mile and a half of sturdy walls built during the 12^th and 17^th centuries, looks much the same as it was 350 years ago with limestone slab streets, red and orange tiled roofs, and numerous historic buildings in Baroque as well as Gothic and Renaissance styles. The city was heavily shelled by the Yugoslav People’s Army during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991, but restoration was swift and international tourism interest in Dubrovnik has blossomed.