“Dubrovnik is no longer the best kept secret to world travellers, yet there are things and tips only locals can reveal to you. They can take you off the beaten track, show you the soul of the city and its hidden gems, and take you to taste the best local food and wine,” says Angela Matic.
Angela and Ksenija were born, raised and still live within the ancient city walls of Dubrovnik, in their 180-year-old house.
“We really consider ourselves to be very blessed and spoilt,” comments Ksenija, “Just imagine waking up every single day and opening the window to the magnificent sea view and perfectly designed architecture, the freshest organic food and fresh fish that our father caught, no pollution and some of the cleanest waters in the world, with sounds of Bach or Beethoven or jazz from the streets and fortresses around and in the city. It pretty much sums up our daily life.”
So much beauty at a glance. Even the English poet Lord Byron called the old town of Dubrovnik “The Pearl of the Adriatic”, and it still holds this name today.
“Apart from these gorgeous sights, the blessings we have encompass other senses as well – smells, tastes and flavours. We can proudly say that we are rich, but not thinking about material wealth,” adds Angela. “The air is so clean, we drink our water from our home water supply systems, even from our fountains. It is the best refreshment in the world and an experience not to be missed when in the Old City during the hot summer months.”
And finally there’s the food. “Oh my God, the food” – this is one of the most common responses you get when asking visitors about gastronomy in Dubrovnik. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, the local specialty is, of course, seafood. Try anything from fish to mussels, oysters, calamari, octopus, shrimp, or lobster.
One of the most famous local specialties is oyster “Ostrea Edulis”. Oysters have been cultivated near Dubrovnik, in the seabed of Mali Ston Bay since ancient times, and consumed in honour of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, said to have been born from a shell.
Historic legends tell of the affection that Roman emperors had for these pearl shells, especially Emperor Tiberius who led crusades into Asia Minor. Oysters from Mali Ston Bay were sent to him in chests with dry grass, which kept them fresh for days.
Other more modern emperors, beginning with Franz Joseph, would order these oysters to their residences, adding to the their reputation for exceptional quality and aphrodisiac properties.
Fertile valleys around the city supply it with tasty organic vegetables, olive oil and wine. Inland villages keep the tradition of preparing succulent lamb and veal under an iron bell and dry curing pork leg into a flavourful prosciutto.
Of course there is more to Dubrovnik than just the food. Its long history provides many other fascinating things for visitors. Dubrovnik is among the ten best preserved medieval cities in the world. This especially relates to its fortified walls where the HBO TV series- Game of Thrones was filmed and currently the new Star Wars movie is also being made.
In 1979 it was inscribed to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.
Dubrovnik was founded in the seventh century AD. It was a free state by the name of The Republic of Ragusa from 14th – 19th century and was the location for many historical milestones. A medical service was introduced in 1301, with the second oldest pharmacy in Europe, still operating to this day, opened in 1317. The first quarantine hospital, Lazareti, was established in 1377, the slave trade was abolished in 1418, and an orphanage opened in 1432. A 20-kilometre long water supply system, instead of a cistern, was constructed in 1438 by the Neapolitan architect and engineer Onofrio della Cava. He completed the aqueduct with two public fountains, which are still operating to this day.
Coming to Dubrovnik is truly like travelling back in time, and with the help of tour guides, mostly locals who just adore their city and want to retell all the stories that happened a few centuries ago, visitors can truly imagine what Dubrovnik was like in the past.
“This is really just a tiny part of what Dubrovnik truly was and is today. Hopefully visitors will recognize the pride we have living here and talking about our city,” say the sisters.
–Beyond Dubrovnik-
It would be a shame to talk about Dubrovnik without the broader context pertaining to it – beautiful Croatia, a central European and Mediterranean country.
Croatia is a country of stunning natural and historical heritage: with 1246 islands, isles and inlets to sail through, thousands of castles and seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is a country of rich intangible cultural heritage, fine arts and cultural events, rich and diverse gastronomy, as well as 130 indigenous wine varieties. Croatia has a highly developed tourism industry and the cleanest sea in the Mediterranean.
“If we have managed to capture your attention and make you interested in visiting Dubrovnik and Croatia by giving you just a short glance of our city, just imagine what the real experience would be like,” the Matic sisters conclude enthusiastically.
Some fun facts about Croatia:
•It was a Croatian named Rudjer Boskovic who suggested placing five concentric iron bands on the dome of St. Peter’s when a crack was discovered. His suggestion was adopted and saved Michelangelo’s work from being destroyed.
•Dalmatians, the breed of black and white spotted dogs are from the region of Dalmatia in Croatia.
•The necktie, worn by business people around the world, is from Croatia. The cravat, as it was named, originated from Croatian soldiers who served as mercenaries for the King of France.
•Croatia is the homeland of the famous explorer Marco Polo. It’s claimed he was born in Korcula in the 13th century. Korcula was then part of the Republic of Venice, but the true location of his birth is a mystery and without any evidence to confirm or deny.
•The second longest wall in the world (after the Great Wall of China), is the wall in Ston, a small city next to Dubrovnik.
杜伯尼克豪華假日
Dubrovnik Luxury Holidays
www.dubrovnikluxuryholidays.cn
To book a trip to Dubrovnik from Macau or Hong Kong contact:
MACAU DIRECT TRAVEL LTD.
COMPANHIA DE TURISMO MACAU DIRECTO LIMITADA
Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida n.。 107-D,
Edificio “Mei Tak”,res-do-chao, bloco “B”, Macau
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