Dubrovnik
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'Miho Pracat' marina is very busy, despite the time of year, book ahead. Dec 2006
General
Dubrovnik - the city of a unique political and cultural history (the Dubrovnik Republic, the Statute from 1272), of world-famous cultural heritage and beauty (inscribed on the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO) - is one of the most attractive and famous cities of the Mediterranean. Apart from its outstanding natural beauties and well-preserved cul-tural and historical heritage, Dubrovnik also offers high-quality visitor opportunities. It is also the city of hotels, of high ecological standards and tourist programs, and is equally attractive in all seasons. Its geographical isolation is compensated by high traffic and communication standards - especially through air traffic and fast hydrofoil boats.
The tourist development of Dubrovnik started before the First World War; quite soon, the exclusiveness of its attractions made Dubrovnik a powerful international tourist centre.
The sightseeing of Dubrovnik and its monuments requires several days. However, already a walk through Stradun, through narrow streets and small squares, monumental ramparts and fortreses, provides enough opportunities to experience the millennial beauty of its shell-shaped urban core, centuries of building, stone-cutting, carving and engraving, the history of the Duke's Palace, libraries, the oldest pharmacy in the south of Europe, etc.
Dubrovnik offers individual choice among numerous museums and galleries, which contain the jewels of Croatian heritage.
The Dubrovnik Museum in the Duke's Palace keeps 15,500 exhibits in its cultural and historical department. A collection of furniture from the 17th-19th century, uniforms of dukes and councillors, aristocratic garments and many other items are exhibited in the authentic halls of the palace. The Maritime Museum (situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan) has a number exhibits on a permanent display, related to the maritime affairs of Dubrovnik and Croatia on the whole, with a particular emphasis on the history of the Dubrovnik Republic. The museum of the Franciscan monastery keeps all inventories of the old pharmacy, as well as the works of Dubrovnik jewel-lers, painters and embroiders. The museum of the Dominican monastery exhibits valuable examples of Dubrovnik painting from the 15th and the 16th centuries, as well as sculptures, jewellery, manuscripts, incunabula and notes (music). The treasury of the Dubrovnik cathedral keeps the relics of St. Blaise, patron of Dubrovnik, and numerous paintings and works of art. The Rupe Ethnographical Museum presents traditional occupations and the rural architecture of the region of Dubrovnik, national costumes and hand-made textiles. Very attractive is also the Aquarium of the Institute of Biology, situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan, comprising interesting marine species.
Dubrovnik has a number of churches, monasteries and hotels scattered all over the town. Its coastal belt is adorned with several marinas, piers and promenades. Because of a magnificent view on the mediaeval Dubrovnik, a walk along the town ramparts is a must for each visitor.
A great number of Dubrovnik restaurants and taverns offer delicious specialities of local and international cuisine. Sports and recreational facilities include playgrounds, courts and requisites for all sports in the sea and on the ground, from tennis and table tennis to sailing and yachting. There are also several gyms and fitness centres with swimming pools, saunas, massage, aerobics, solarium, box gyms, etc.
DUBROVNIK, a town, port and tourist centre of the southern Croatian coast. It lies at the foot of the limestone Srd Mount (412 m), in a valley enclosed to the south-west by the Lapad plateau and a smaller reef with the oldest part of Dubrovnik. The ancient town core was connected with the suburban zone on the other side of the valley by levelling and filling up of a marshy valley between the Gruz Bay in the north and Stari Porto (Old Port) in the south, as well as by the construction of the Placa (Stradun). Stradun thus became the centre of the town and its main street, connecting two opposite town gates: the Ploce Gate in the east and the Pile Gate in the west. Upon the construction of the port in the Gruz Bay, Gruz was gradually annexed to Dubrovnik and became an integral part of the town. Later on, Dubrovnik extended also to the Lapad peninsula, to lower parts of the Srd slopes and outside the town ramparts toward Zupa. The climate of Dubrovnik is characterized by warm and dry summers and mild winters. The average air temperature in the coldest month (February) is 4.6 °C and in the warmest month (August) 26.2 °C. The cold half of the year accounts for 68 % of the total annual rainfall; the spring accounts for 29, the summer for 14, the autumn for 26 and the winter for 37 rainy days out of the total number of 105 rainy days. Snow occurs extremely rarely; with 2,554 hours of sunshine a year, Dubrovnik ranks among the sunniest towns of southern Europe. In July it has 12.4 hours of sunshine a day, like Alexandria in Egypt. The vegetation is subtropical and extremely luxuriant (olives, almonds, citrus fruit, rosemary, laurel, holm oak, pine, stone pine, cypress). Southeast of the old part of the town is a tourist zone called Ploce (hotels and beaches), west of it is Lapad (sports facilities, hotels, beaches, walking trails), while northwest of it is the Gruz port and Gruz. Economy is based on tourism and seafaring. The town has a number of cultural and educational institutions: the Nautical College, the Tourist College, the University Centre for Postgraduate Studies of the University of Zagreb, the Institute of History of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and other.
Dubrovnik has a town port, the port of Gruz and a marina. The old town port is protected by the Porporela breakwater; yachts drawing up to 3 m may dock in it; smaller ships are docked in the cove of Gornja Bocina. The port of Gruz is a trading port, situated 2.5 km northwest of the ancient town core of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Marina is located in Komolac, in the interior part of Rijeka Dubrovacka, about 4 km from the entrance to the port of Gruz. Dubrovnik is located on the main road (M2, E65). The Dubrovnik airport is located in Cilipi.
History
George Bernard Shaw was enchanted by this beautiful city: for him, it was paradise. Millions of people also take home happy memories from this "jewel of the Adriatic".
Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. An independent, merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), it traded with Turkey and India in the East (with a consul in Goa, India) and had trade representatives in Africa (in the Cape Verde Islands). It even had diplomatic relations with the English court in the middle ages. (There is a letter from Elizabeth I on display in the City Museum in Dubrovnik). Its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was envious of this Croatian-Slav city.
The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day. Tall ramparts surround it and there are only two entrances to the old town which lead to the Stradun, the city's promenade. One of the greatest pleasures for many visitors is to have a drink in one of the nearby cafes and watch the world go by, whilst they themselves are being watched by the city patron, St. Blaise, or Sveti Vlaho as the locals call him. In 1991/2, the Serbs shelled the city causing considerable damage, but thanks to local efforts and international aid, the old town has been restored to its former beauty.
But whatever we say, our words do not give justice to this dazzling place. So come soon and see it with your own eyes!
Approaches
DUBROVNIK CITY, Old city harbour and Gruz harbour
When approach is effected from Kolocep Channel, landmarks include the Babin Kuk hotel complex on the Lapad peninsula, the round white tower exhibiting a white light on the N extremity of the islet of Daksa, the round red tower with a column and a balcony (red light) on Kantafig point. When approach is effected from the open sea, landmarks include Mt Srdj (elevation 403 m) with a conspicuous grey radio mast and cable car installations on its slopes, the two conical wooded hills (Velika Petka, 197 m and Mala Petka, 146 m) on the Lapad peninsula below which are the white buildings of housing developments, the lighthouse on the islet of Sv Andrija (square masonry tower on a dwelling, flashing white, visibility about 22 miles), the square masonry tower on a dwelling exhibiting a white light on the westernmost rock of the Grebeni rocks, the conical masonry tower with a balcony exhibiting a white light on the island of Kolocep (Bezdanj point), the tower (white light) on the islet of Daksa. The shoal patch Vranac which extends off the N coast of Lapad is marked by a square stone mark with a conical topmark (peak turned upwards). Between this mark and the coast the depth is about 0.8 m.
Special Regulations. Vessels of all descriptions are required to reduce speed to 4 knots inside the line joining the light on Daksa islet and Leandar point (Lozica). Anchorage is prohibited SE of the line joining Vranac shoal (off the N coast of Lapad) and Leandar point. Navigation is prohibited between the islet of Daksa and the Lapad peninsula from April 1 to October 1. When approaching into Rijeka Dubrovacka, care should be taken of shoals. There is a danger of strong winds, which cause high sea on the entrance of the river. Up to the prominent monastery in Prijevor village the inlet (river) has a width of 170 to 400 m and is navigable for craft of all sizes. From Prijevor onwards the river narrows and its depth gradually decreases. Anchoring is allowed only to small vessels (yachts) NE of the village of Trajkovici (depth 511 m).
The bora is strongly felt, at times blowing down the river valley with gale force. NW and SW winds sometimes raise a heavy sea at the river mouth.
Charts
Weather
The climate along the Dubrovnik Region is a typical Mediterranean one, with mild, rainy winters and hot and dry summers. The air temperatures can slightly vary, depending on the area or region. Summer temperatures in July rise till 34°C in the northern part, while in the southern part they usually rise to 38°C. During winter the coldest temperatures are recorded in the northern Adriatic with temperatures dropping sometimes below zero, while the southern regions of the Adriatic coast generally remain above zero.
Air temperature average annual - 16.4°C (61.5°F) average of coldest period (January) 9°C (48.2°F) average of warmest period (August) 24.9°C (76.8°F)
Sea temperature average May - September 17.9°C - 23.8°C (64.2°F - 74.8°F)
Salinity approximately 38 ‰ (parts per thousand)
Precipitation average annual 1,020.8 mm average annual rain days 109.2
Sunshine average annual 2629 l average daily hours: 7.2 h
Marinas and Anchorages
Marina Dubrovnik "Miho Pracat"
42°40.30' N - 18°07.00' E Address: Dubrovnik p.p., 20000 Dubrovnik Tel: +385 020 45 50 20 Fax: +385 020 45 50 22
The marina is open year round. It is located near the town of Komolac in Rijeka Dubrovacka in the gorge of the river Ombla.
Yachts berth at the breakwater, at the embankment, and at the floating fingers. There are about 450 sea-berths with water, electricity and telephone hook-ups. Dry-berths (6000 square m) for about 350 vessels. The depth inside the marina is 5 m; max. speed allowed is 5 knots.
The marina is open all year round as the port of entry; customs.
Facilities
- Reception office,
- Harbour master's branch office,
- Hotel, restaurant, super-market, duty-free shop (DFS),
- shop selling nautical items and spares, nautical charts and other relevant publications, camping and sports equipment;
- Tennis court;
- Nearest post office in the village of Komolac.
- Fuel pump and sale of bottled gas (500 m).
Crane (5 t) and launching and hauling-up facility (25 t and 60 t travel-lift), slipway, wintering (outdoors), safe keeping, cleaning and rubbing down of laid-up vessels. Repairs to wooden and plastic hulls, repair and maintenance of all types of engines (VOLVO authorized service), installation of engines and electric installations, painting and varnishing. Nearest shipyard at Mokosica (downstream on Rijeka Dubrovacka).
Dubrovnik Old City harbour
42° 38,5'N 18° 07'E It is protected by the Por porela breakwater (red square iron tower with a column exhibiting a red light) and by the masonry sea-wall Kase
The City harbour can accomodate yachts drawing up to 3 m. The small pier is reserved for local passenger ships. Smaller yachts can anchor in Gornja Bocina cove (S of Kriz point); moderate waves and winds.
Gruz harbour
42° 40'N 18° 05'E A commercial port 2.5 km northwest of the Old City
The harbour is protected from all winds except westerlies, which raise waves and cause a swell to creep in. The bora blows violently. Its full impact is felt at the harbour entrance and in the area around Kantafig point (at the mouth of Rijeka Dubrovacka). The Petka pier (Gat Petka) is reserved for liners and the car-ferry service (DubrovnikBari). Moorages for yachts are laid out S of Petka pier (in depth of about 4 m) to the Radeljevic factory (berths are indicated by the Luka company). Smaller yachts may moor at the breakwater or in the small harbour of the Orsan Sailing Club, if prior permission has been obtained and dues paid at the club. The depth range from 4 to 5 m.
Facilities
- the harbour master's office (with a branch office in the Old City harbour),
- post office,
- customs house,
- the Maritime Faculty and Maritime School,
- the headquarters of Atlantska plovidba shipping line,
- central post office,
- hospital and the Atlas Travel Agency, which owns a fleet of tourist ships.
- The Orsan Sailing Club.
Sailing Clubs
Sailing Club "ORSAN"
Ivana Zajca 2, 20000 Dubrovnik. Phone: +385 20 435 922; Fax: +385 20 436 969. E-mail: jd-orsan@du.htnet.hr
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