Dubrovnik Architecture

Most of the major attractions in Dubrovnik are located on or just off the Stradun. Starting inside the Pile Gate and ending just off Luza Square in front of the Rector’s Palace will take you past many historical sites. This short walk is one of the best in all of Dalmatia (and arguably all of Europe)!

The limestone-paved Placa aka Stradun is the main street through Old Town.

• Built: 13th century; paved 1468; rebuilt after 1667

• Architect: Petar Andrijich
• Style: Renaissance with Gothic features
• Built: 1520 – 1528
• Address: Poljana Paska Miličevića, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Church of St. Saviour was built in appreciation for the city being spared from destruction by the great earthquake that destroyed much of the city.

• Architect: Onofrio della Cava
• Built: 1438
• Address: Poljana Paska Miličevića 2000, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Style: Baroque (restoration)
• Built: starting in 1317
• Address: Poljana Paska Miličevića 4, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Architect: Marino Groppelli
• Style: Venetian Baroque
• Built: 1706 to 1714
• Address: Rkt. crkva sv. Vlaha, Luža ul. 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Church of St. Blaise is dedicated to Dubrovnik’s patron saint.

• Architect: Paskoje Miličević Mihov
• Style: Renaissance and Gothic
• Built: 1516 to 1522
• Address: Stradun 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Sponza Palace (aka Customs Palace Divona) was one of the few buildings to survive the earthquake of 1667.

• Built: originally 1444; rebuilt 1929; clock was built in 1444; bell was cast in 1506
• Address: 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Architect: Marino Gropelli (18th-century facade)
• Style: Baroque facade
• Built: originally 15th century; restored 20th century
• Address: Luža ul. 1, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The City Guard Building was the Admiral’s residence dating back to the 15th century. The 18th-century Baroque façade was preserved when the building was restored in the 20th.

Marin Držić Theatre aka Kazalište Marina Držića

• Built: 1865
• Address: Ul. Pred Dvorom, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Architect: Onofrio della Cava
• Built: 1438
• Address: Ul. Pred Dvorom, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Rector’s Palace is home to the Cultural History Museum.

• Architect: Onofrio della Cava of Naples (originally)
• Style: Gothic with Renaissance and Baroque elements
• Built: starting 14th century
• Address: Ul. Pred Dvorom 3, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Palace has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries. Significantly, the building was damaged by fire in 1435, a gunpowder explosion in 1463, and earthquakes in 1520 and 1667.

The Walls of Dubrovnik have been made famous by the HBO series Game of Thrones.

The Lovrijenac Fortress was originally constructed on a 37-meter high sea cliff to protect the western sea access to the City.

• Built: starting in 1018; completed in the 16th century
• Address: Ul. od Tabakarije 29, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The fort reached its current form in the 16th century.

The Pile Gate is the main entrance to Dubrovnik’s old town.

• Built: 15th century
• Address:

It is a well-fortified complex, including a stone bridge over a former moat, a wooden drawbridge, and multiple doors separated by stairs and a ramp.

• Address: Ul. Vrata od Pila, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Bokar Fortress was built to protect the Pile Gate and the Western approach from the sea.

• Architect: Michelozzo di Bartololmeo
• Built: almost completed in 1460s
• Address: Od Puća 20, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The fort was finally completed in 1570, over a century after construction started.

• Address: Ul. od Margarite, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Address: Ul. Ispod Mira 9, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Address: Ul. Ispod Mira 10, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Address: Ul. Braće Andrijića 14, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

St. John’s Fort (Tvrđava Svetog Ivana) was originally constructed to protect the harbor from the southeast.

• Built: 1346 
• Address: Tvrđava Sv. Ivana,, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The entire fort complex was enlarged in the 16th century resulting in the present form.

aka Kula Luka

The Ploče Gate is the second major entrance to the Old Town.

• Built: 15th century
• Address: Ul. Vrata od Ploča, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

This fortified entrance consists of inner and outer gates with stone bridges. The outer section also includes a wooden drawbridge that was pulled up every evening.

Fort Revelin was constructed to protect the eastern Ploče Gate from the mainland and the entrance to the City Harbor.

• Built: starting in 1463
• Address: Ul. Svetog Dominika 3, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Starting in 1538, an 11-year expansion project resulted in the largest of the old town forts.

• Address: Ul. Svetog Dominika 7, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Architect: Paskoje Miličević 
• Built: 1467

• Address: Ul. Maria Perića, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Built: 1907
• Address: Ul. Iza Grada, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Minčeta Fortress aka Minceta Tower, located at the highest north-western part of the City, was originally constructed with a quadrangular tower.

• Architect: Nikifor Ranjina, Michelozzo Michelozzi, and Juraj Dalmatinac
• Built: 1319
• Address: Ul. Ispod Minčete 9, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

It was enlarged to its current form with a circular tower in 1464.

• Architect: Tommaso Napoli
• Style: Roman Baroque
• Built: 1673 – 1713
• Address: Ul. kneza Damjana Jude 1, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary aka Dubrovnik Cathedral was reconstructed in the current style after the 1667 earthquake largely destroyed the original 12th-century Romanesque-style cathedral. The reconstruction project took three decades to finish.

• Style: Gothic with various elements of Romanesque, Baroque, and Renaissance
• Built: began in 13th century and completed in 14th century
• Address: Ul. Svetog Dominika 4, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Saint Dominic’s Church and monastery is one of the largest Gothic-style buildings on the Croatian coast.

• Architect: Petar Andrijić
• Style: Gothic and Renaissance
• Built: 1534 
• Address: Ul. od Puča 8, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Architect: unknown
• Style: Baroque elements
• Built: 1630
• Address: Kneza Damjana Jude1, 20000,Dubrovnik 20000 Dubrovnik Croatia

• Architect: Ignazio Pozzo
• Style: Baroque
• Built: 1699 – 1725
• Address: Poljana Ruđera Boškovića 7, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Style: Renaissance 
• Built: 1571 
• Address: Ul. od Margarite, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Style: Byzantine Revival
• Built: 1877
• Address: Ul. od Puča 8, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Style: Baroque
• Built: 1668
• Address: 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Style: paleo-Croatian
• Built: originally 9th century; last renovated 1787
• Address: Ul. Svetog Dominika 4, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The 15th-century Gothic-style saints carved above the door are attributed to Leonard and Petar Petrović.

• Address: Ul. Miha Pracata 3, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Style: Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance
• Built: starting in 1228
• Address: Ul. Svetog Dominika 4, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Architect: Pietro Passalacqua
• Style: Baroque 
• Built: 1738
• Address: Ulica Uz Jezuite, Gunduliceva poljana, 20000 Dubrovnik

aka Ruđer Bošković

• Built: 17th century
• Address: Poljana Ruđera Boškovića 6, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

St. Blaise has been the patron saint of Dubrovnik since the 10th century.

The statue of St. Blaise over the Pile Gate is the work of Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović.

• Built: original 1935; reconstructed 1991
• Address: Srđ ul. 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The construction of Dubrovnik’s city walls dates back to the 7th century, undergoing significant developments over the centuries. These walls have witnessed the city’s evolution, with additions and fortifications made after the catastrophic earthquake in the 17th century.

Serving as a defense system, these walls showcase medieval infrastructure and highlight Dubrovnik’s architectural heritage. The city walls played a pivotal role in protecting the city and are a prime example of solid construction and strategic urban planning, attracting visitors and historians alike.

The architecture of Dubrovnik is a captivating blend of various styles, including baroque architecture. Baroque architecture, known for its ornate details and dramatic flair, can be seen in many buildings throughout the city. The influence of Baroque architecture from Italy can be observed in the decorative and theatrical elements present in Dubrovnik’s architectural landscape, adding to the city’s charm and historical significance.

Gothic architecture in Dubrovnik can be admired in structures like the Rector’s Palace, which serves as a prime example of this intricate and elegant style. Dating back to the 15th century, the palace showcases Gothic style elements such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and intricate stone carvings. Its significance lies not only in its architectural beauty but also in its historical role as the seat of government during the time of the Dubrovnik Republic. Visitors can marvel at the fusion of artistry and functionality in this stunning representation of Gothic architecture within the city walls of Dubrovnik.

The Renaissance architecture in Dubrovnik reflects a period of cultural and artistic flourishing in the city’s history. Characterized by symmetry, proportion, and harmony, Renaissance buildings in Dubrovnik exude elegance and sophistication. One prominent example is the Sponza Palace, a 16th-century structure that embodies the principles of Renaissance architecture with its graceful arcades, ornate decorations, and classical motifs. As a symbol of Dubrovnik’s prosperity and cultural richness during the Renaissance era, the Sponza Palace stands as a testament to the city’s architectural legacy.

Want to learn about local history while visiting Dubrovnik? Book a highly-rated city tour in Dubrovnik now!

Dubrovnik is a medieval city with medieval city walls. However, most of the public buildings were built in the Baroque style.

Traditional architecture in Croatia varies depending on the region and historical influences. In coastal cities like Dubrovnik, you can find examples of Venetian Gothic and Renaissance styles, with red-tiled roofs, stone walls, and ornate details such as balconies and arched windows.

Dubrovnik is known for its stunning architecture, like the Walls of Dubrovnik and the Rector’s Palace.

Dubrovnik is walled because of its historical significance as a port city and trading hub. The walls were built in the 13th century to protect the city from invaders and pirates, who frequently raided coastal towns. In addition to providing protection, the walls also symbolized wealth and power for the city’s ruling class, who invested heavily in their construction and maintenance. The walls were reinforced and expanded over the centuries, with the final construction in the 17th century.

Today, the walls are one of Dubrovnik’s most famous landmarks and a popular tourist attraction, offering stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding countryside.

The color of the terracotta roof tiles varies with the source of the clay, from a pale buff-yellow, through pink and orange to fairly deep reds and chocolate brown. It all depends on the percentage of iron oxide content and how far from the heat the tile was during firing.