Dubrovnik

The town in the southern part of the east Adriatic coast, the seat of the county Dubrovnik and Neretva, and cultural and administrative center. It lies at the foot of Srd (412 meters high hill), in the valley that is in the south-west closed by the elevation Lapad and small ridge with the oldest part of Dubrovnik.#$#  With 2,554 hours of sun per year, Dubrovnik has one of the highest insolation values among European towns. Rich subtropical vegetation (olives, almonds, citrus fruits, rosemary, laurel, holly oak, pine, stone pine, cypress). The most developed branches of economy are tourism and naval affairs. The famous Festival of Dubrovnik (the review of music, drama, poetry, and folklore) is held in Dubrovnik every summer, for 46 years. The Slavic name of the city was derived from the word dubrava (meaning forest), and Latin name Rausa, came from the name of the small island where the first settlement was founded (Lausa, Lave). The town was founded probably at the first half of the 7th century, after the nearby Epidaurum (present Cavtat) was destroyed in the course of the invasion of Slavs and Avars in Dalmatia. However, it seems that even before the 7th century, there was a settlement on the island of Lave. As free and independent state, the Republic of Dubrovnik flourished in the 15th and 16th century. The crises of the Mediterranean marine affairs reflects also in Dubrovnik, and centuries that came brought gradual decline. The town was also destroyed by the terrible earthquake in 1667. In 1806, it was conquered by the French, and in 1808 marshal Marmont abolished the Republic of Dubrovnik.
In the times of the independence the state government was in the hands of the aristocracy: the govrning bodies were Big and Small Council and Senate. The head of the state was the prince that was elected for period of one month. In 1333 the emperor Stefan Dušan gave Ston and Pelješac to Dubrovnik, and in the 15th century Dubrovnik bought Konavle and Cavtat, and gradually also the islands of Mljet, Lastovo, and Korcula. In a few centuries it became the strongest economic center on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. It traded both with the East and the West, it built significant war and trade fleet, and it also kept diplomatic relations with a number of states and towns. Since 1272, Dubrovnik has its own statute. In 1301 they established the medicine service, and in 1317 founded the first pharmacy. Since 1347 there is old people's home in the town, and since 1432 orphanage. The water supply system was built in 1436. Dubrovnik was also the literary center (Marin Držic, Ivan Gundulic), the center of the local painting school, and the birth place of famous scientists like Marin Gataldic, Ruder Boškovic, Benedikt Kotruljic, etc.
The old town is encircled with monumental 1,940 meters long wall. On the mainland side it is 4-6 meters wide and on the sea side it is 1.5-3 meters wide. It is on some places even 25 meters high. The wall is strengthened with three circular and twelve rectangular towers, five bastions, two corner citadels, and big fortress of St. John. The most monumental amongst towers is Minceta, while Bokar is the oldest example of that kind in Europe. The town is also defended by two independent fortresses: Revelin, built from 1539 to 1551, and Lovrijenac on the 46 high cliff above the sea (according to the chronicles, its construction began in 1050). The town had four city gates: two that led to the harbor and two (with draw bridges) that led to the mainland. During the Austrian rule two more gates were opened in the wall. The defense walls are preserved in their original shape and they are open for visits. The entrance on the walls is possible on several places in the town. The Luža square is the center of public life since the oldest times. From that square stretches towards the west the main artery of the town inside the walls, Placa (Stradun). On the north side of the square is the Sponza P