Dubrovnik — Enigma of the Forgotten Kharaj

Your investigation begins at Onofrio's Great Fountain, built between 1438 and 1440 by Neapolitan architect Onofrio de la Cava. Its 16 mascarons, from which water flows via a 12-kilometer aqueduct from the Šumet spring, symbolized the Republic's prosperity. The 1667 earthquake ravaged 80% of Dubrovnik, but this fountain, with its 9-meter diameter and 1.4-meter deep basin, was restored, demonstrating the resilience of the fortified Old Town of Dubrovnik. It is here that the first clues about the Kharaj, hidden in the archives of the Republic of Ragusa, must be found, a challenge for any explorer of Dalmatian heritage.

Continue your journey to the Franciscan Monastery, founded in 1317. Its Gothic cloister, built between 1360 and 1390, with its 120 white marble columns, survived the 1667 earthquake thanks to its criss-crossed arch structure. The monastery's pharmacy, one of Europe's oldest, has been continuously operating since 1317. The library, housing over 16,000 medieval manuscripts and incunabula, is a key location for your mission. Monks may have hidden crucial information about the Kharaj, a vital tax for the Republic of Ragusa, preventing its destruction by fire and tremors. This stop is essential for this historical walking tour in Croatia, a true outdoor escape game in Dubrovnik.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, rebuilt after 1667 on the ruins of the 14th-century Gothic edifice, is your next stop. Architect Paolo Andreotti shaped this Dalmatian Baroque marvel, consecrated in 1713 after 46 years of work. With its 67 meters in length and a 42-meter high dome, it houses the Cathedral Treasury, containing relics of Saint Blaise and liturgical objects from the 11th century. It is in this place of faith and history that the scribes of the Republic of Ragusa could have hidden copies of the Kharaj, vital documents for the city's survival. Your interactive visit to Dubrovnik reveals unsuspected secrets.

The Rector's Palace, built between 1441 and 1464 in Gothic-Renaissance style, was the official residence of the Rector, elected for a one-month term, a unique anti-corruption system. Its three floors and monumental staircase of pink Venetian marble, restored in 1952, are a testament to Dalmatian Baroque architecture. It was here that the main archives of the Republic of Ragusa were kept. Gundulić Square, named after the poet Ivan Gundulić (1589-1638), with his statue erected in 1892, is a convergence point for the main streets. The traditional market, active since the 15th century, might conceal coded messages about the Kharaj, remnants of a time when information circulated discreetly. This outdoor escape game in Dubrovnik immerses you in the heart of history.

Your quest concludes at the Lazareti, Dubrovnik's lazaret, built in 1377. It was one of Europe's first, imposing a 30-day quarantine on ships to prevent epidemics. This 4-story stone building, with its 34 isolation rooms and fumigation disinfection system, still bears inscriptions carved by quarantined sailors, some dated 1480-1550. Kharaj documents could have been quarantined for protection or discreet transfer. By exploring these sites, from the Old Port and its Venetian Arsenal, a refuge for Ragusa's merchant fleet, to the 1436 fortifications, you perceive the importance of the motto "Libertas" and Dubrovnik's constant struggle for independence and prosperity. You have not only solved the enigma of the forgotten Kharaj but also discovered the soul of this city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.