ZATON
A picturesque
bay in the northwest of Dubrovnik is framed by houses and berths for
the boats of settlements Veliki and Mali Zaton and Štikovica. The summer
mansions of the old nobility from Dubrovnik and the spring in Mali Zaton
are of big interest.
ORAŠAC
Orašac is
a picturesque settlement in the area of Dubrovačko primorje. There are
few old secular and sacral buildings and of special interest is the
castle «Arapovo» and the curche of St. Nikola built in 1250. In the
hinterland of Orašac there are 6 settlements.
TRSTENO
When we
see two big plane-trees that means we are in Trsteno. Volume of the
bigger one is 11 meters, and it is supposed to be old more than 400
years. In the park of the family Gučetić, besides cedar-trees, cypresses
and red chestnut, there are also 500 rare plants brought here by seamen
from their distant voyages. Today this park is very famos arboretum.
SLANO
Few sandy
beaches and beautuful pine wood in the bay of Slano stimulated the building
of hotel and motor camp. The hotel Osmine in the northwestern part of
the bay is one of the most atractive hotels on the Dubrovnik riviera.
There are many remains in the Slano surroundings that tells us it was
populated in ancient times, like roman castle on the hill of Gradina,
and by the old road Slano-Metković standing tomb-stones are found.
The rector's
palace in Slano was erected by the end of the 14th century.
ŽUPA DUBROVAČKA
The gulf
of Župa is surrounded by picturesque settlements of Dubrovnik riviera:
Kupari, Srebreno, Mlini i Cavtat. The etymology of these names tells
us that once in Kupari tiles were made ( kupa means tile), and that
in roman times Srebreno was called « sub Breno», meaning that it lies
below Župa (Brenum).
CAVTAT
The name
of the city has its origin in the latin word Civitas. It was also called
Captat.Here the gulf of Župa ends and Konavle area begins. Cavtat was
mentioned in the 6th century as a seat of a bishop. In the 7th century
it was captured and destroyed by the Avars and slavs. Since 1302 it
was in possession of the city of Dubrovnik. It was destroyed in the
15th century, and the inhabitants of Dubrovnik constructed the walls
and fortresses once again. In 1894 the walls of Cavtat were destroyed.
The rector's palace was built in the 16th century. In the church of
St. Nikola there are many paintings of Vlaho Bukovac, the famous painter
and portraitist from Cavtat, whose colours inspired his characters with
life, for ever. The church of St. Blaise and the franciscan monastery
are from the 15th century. There are few paintings of Vlaho Bukovac
in this church too.
KONAVLE
The Konavle
valley is also called Konavli. The name Konavli has its origin in the
latin word canalis, because the Romans invented the system of canals
as a defence from overflows. The word canabula meant draining pipe.
From autumn to spring, Konavli were turning into the big lake. The water
irrigated the valley. Here numerous cultures grow,especially south plants
as oranges, lemons, mandarines, almonds, carobs, hips, olives and vines.
MOLUNAT
The settlement
Molunat is situated on the small peninsula of Molunat. In front of Molunat,
in the bay, there are few picturesque small rocky islands. On the rocky
ground, on the hills around Molunat there are prehistoric remains, and
in Molunat there are traces of roman constructions. The remains of the
walls from 15th century, that served as a shelter for the inhabitants
of Konavli, in the case of attack, remind of the Republic of Dubrovnik.
PELJESAC
The vine,
the famous dingac, postup, prosecco, shells and salt made Peljesac famous.
The fortification of Ston, captains of Orebic, and we have menitoned
almost everything what is Peljesac (once called Stonki Rat) famous for.
Besides Istra it is the biggest peninsula on our coast. There are 90
kms from isthmus of Ston to the promontory of Lovisce. In the 14th century
Veliki Ston was surrounded by walls which are its symbol today. The
narrow streets of this town are intersected under right angle. The ruins
of the fort of Koruna dominate the town of Mali Ston. The big wall (2224
m) sretches from Koruna to the fort of Podzvizd.
STON
It's very
important to be aware of the importance of the salt in the Middle Ages
to understand the importance of Ston. In this town, on its salt-pans,
in the shallow bay, the salt was collected from the sea, since ancient
times. The Ston of today was founded in 1333 when the inhabitants of
Dubrovnik acquired Pelješac. The above mentioned walls stretches to
the peak of Podzvizd, to the fort wich was the key of the fortification
system of Ston. On the southwestern part of Ston there is the strongest
fort Veliki Kaštio, from which stretches the wall to the Solila (salt-pans).
This system is long 5,5 kms and it was built till 1500. On the main
square of Ston there is an interesting fountain from 1571. St. Blaise
is the patron saint of Ston, and its statues remind us of the famous
past, of the powerful navy, of the important trade, of the rich treasury
of cultural events. On the hill of St.Michael there is a small church
of St. Michael from 11th or 12th century.
