Dubrovnik - Stradun

Dubrovnik was founded probably within the 6th century. It grew in medieval times and was known as "Republic of Ragusa" between 1358 to 1808. It was added to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy - and after the Congress of Vienna was part of the Habsburg Empire.

The old town of Dubrovnik, since 1979 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, is a wonderful city - and a major tourist destination. The center of Dubrovnik is small, so it can get pretty crowded, when two cruise ships have arrived - even in October.

"Stradun" (aka "Placa") is the limestone-paved main street of the old town. In 1667 a devastating earthquake hit Dubrovnik. This and a large fire immediately afterwards, destroyed most of the city and killed about 5000 citizens. Before the reconstruction of the city started, a law was passed, specifying the layout of all future residential buildings,

All houses lining the Stradun were built after the earthquake - and share the same pattern.