Dubrovnik in the Evening Light

A truly successful day is coming to an end. Today, we had a very special highlight on our cruise program: We had booked the excursion „Evening Trip to Dubrovnik“ through Mein Schiff – and the timing could not have been better.

Our first destination was the famous Hausberg Srđ, standing at 412 meters high. Even at the valley station of the historical Dubrovnik Cable Car, excitement began to build. We ascended in a modern panorama gondola in a steep ride – a true experience as the houses below grew smaller and smaller. Upon arriving at the top, we were presented with a breathtaking postcard view: The deep blue Adriatic Sea, the offshore island of Lokrum, and the mighty, world-famous city wall that envelopes the old town like a stone shield. In the warm evening sun, the distinctive red tiled roofs glowed intensely.

After our descent, we entered the old town from the eastern side through the imposing, tower-guarded Ploče Gate. Just behind the fortress gate, we passed the simple Gothic church of St. Luke and the powerful Dominican monastery. A beautiful highlight here was the semi-circular, late Gothic stone staircase at the Dominican monastery, whose artistic balustrade with its striking stone columns provided a fantastic photo opportunity in the evening light.

From there, we directly immersed ourselves in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town and reached the magnificent Stradun. At the eastern end of the main promenade, the elegant bell tower rises 31 meters high, whose famous bronze figures (“Zelenci”) have marked the hours for centuries. Right at its feet, the baroque St. Blasius Church, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, shone beautifully illuminated at dusk with its richly adorned façade.

Just a few steps further led us to the absolute architectural highlights of the Republic of Ragusa: the magnificent Rector’s Palace with its masterful colonnade, which was once the government center, and the majestic baroque Cathedral of Dubrovnik, whose large dome dominates the skyline of the city. On the vibrant marketplace just behind, we paused briefly at the monument of Ivan Gundulić, honoring the city’s most famous baroque poet.

Before we continued down the Stradun, we took a look at the small, earthquake-proof St. Saviour Church (Church of the Redeemer) right next to the monumental Onofrio Fountain, which has retained the Renaissance architecture of the city almost completely.

Around 8:30 PM, this wonderful excursion came to an end. With countless images in our minds, the scent of Mediterranean bougainvillea blossoms in our noses, and the gentle light of the twilight over the sea, we happily returned on board. An unforgettable evening!