Dubrovnik Old Town — Forgotten Ledger Quest

Your journey begins at Pile Gate, the main entrance to Dubrovnik's Old Town. Built in 1537 by Paskoje Miličević and Andrija Pripislav, and later reinforced by a circular bastion in 1547, this entrance stands as a testament to the defensive power of the historic Republic of Ragusa. Here, you'll observe the statue of Saint Blaise, the city's patron, restored after the devastating earthquake of 1667. This starting point immediately immerses you in the heritage of listed Croatian monuments and the history of Dubrovnik, setting the stage for your GPS scavenger hunt in the heart of Dalmatia.

Continuing your path, you will discover the Velika Onofrijeva česma, or Great Onofrio Fountain. Erected in 1438 by the Italian architect Onofrio della Cava, this fountain is the culmination of a 12 km aqueduct completed in 1444, which supplied drinking water to the city. Standing 5 meters tall and adorned with allegorical sculptures and Latin inscriptions, it embodies the ingenuity of Ragusa's engineers. The Stradun (Placa), the main street paved with marble after the 1667 earthquake, stretches for 300 meters, connecting palaces and fountains at its ends, leading you to Dubrovnik's historic commercial heart.

The Palača Sponza, built between 1516 and 1522 in a Gothic-Renaissance style by Paskoje Miličević and Petar Martinovljević, will be your next crucial stop. This palace served as a customs house, bank, and state archives from the 16th century. Its inner courtyard, with its Gothic columns and Renaissance portal adorned with noble heads, was a place where merchants of the Republic of Ragusa exchanged vital information. It is here that the Forgotten Great Book might have left its traces, amidst the historical documents of Croatia.

As you head towards Luža Square, the central plaza of the Old Town, you will face the Palace of Agreements (Luža) built in 1557 by Michele Solaro. This square also houses an open loggia and an astronomical clock added in 1445, and has been the scene of markets and public announcements since the Middle Ages. Nearby, the Knežev dvor (Rector's Palace), initially built in the 14th century and reconstructed in 1441 and again after 1667 by Francesco Borromini, was the residence of the Rector of the Republic of Ragusa from 1358 to 1808. Its columned atrium and monumental staircase tell the political story of Dubrovnik.

Your quest concludes near the Dubrovačka katedrala, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, rebuilt between 1671 and 1714 by Andrea Buffalini after the 1667 earthquake. It houses the Treasury with relics of Saint Blaise. Finally, the Stari Gradski Porat, the Old Town Port, protected by the St. John fortress since 1551, was the center of maritime trade in the 16th century. By walking along these 14th-century stone quays, you will have not only discovered the Forgotten Great Book but also the soul of Dubrovnik's Old Town, an unforgettable Dalmatian themed circuit for any family seeking an interactive visit of Dubrovnik.