Touring Dubrovnik

Now that Kevin is here, we are walking around to show him the Old City.

Back to the Stradun

It was raining early on but that does not stop us from walking around town.

Ivan Gundulic Square

Gundulic Square, locally called Gundulićeva Poljana is a busy Dubrovnik’s square which is also the home of popular morning fruits and vegetables market.

It is located at the southern side of the Stradun, right behind Dubrovnik’s Cathedral, bordered by elegant buildings and numerous shops and restaurants.

Gunduliceva Poljana is an open air market is located near the cathedral in the Old Town.  There are a lot of tourists, gathered here daily to peruse the selection of mostly fresh fruits and vegetables until around noon-ish. Fresh local products are grown in the fields just outside the town, mostly Konavle region.

The market is opened every morning and close in the afternoon.

The market is fairly small and has numerous stalls full of seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as other local products like dried lavender, lavender oil, locally produced Grappa and other brandies.

The square is dominated by the monument of Dubrovnik’s well known 18^th century poet, Ivan Gundulić, sculptured by Ivan Rendić at the end of 19^th century.

On the monument’s pedestal there are some bronze reliefs depicting the scenes from Osman (Gundulic’s famous poem).

Jesuits staircase

A few steps away from the market you will find the grand Jesuits staircase that leads to St Ignatius Church and was completed in 1738.

The staircase was Pietro Passalacqua, a Roman architect, who brought in aspects reminiscent of the famous Spanish steps in Rome leading from Piazza di Spagna to Trinità dei Monti Church. Game of Thrones also filmed on these steps.

St Ignatius Church

St. Ignatius Loyola Church is a Jesuit church built by the architect Andrea Pozzo from 1667 to 1725. Part of an elaborate complex accessible via the Jesuits staircase.

There is a nice restaurant a few steps from the church.

The facade of the church

A single nave church, St. Ignatius Loyola is notable both for its historical and religious significance. The semicircular nave and the two side chapels are particularly striking features of the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola as depicted by opulent frescoes by the Sicilian master painter Gaetano Garcia. The beautiful sculptures inside the church further add to the grandeur of the interior, with white arched columns serving as majestic accents.

Close to the exit/entrance of the church there is a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes, which is one of the most popular spots to take photographs.

Typical medieval narrow alleys with arches in the old city.

Next.....Old Port