Jesuit Stairs, Dubrovnik

Designed by Roman architect Pietro Passalacqua, the Jesuit Stairs are one of Dubrovnik’s most elegant Baroque flourishes. Built in 1738, the sweeping staircase rises in broad stone steps that strongly resemble Rome’s famous Spanish Steps—only here the setting comes with Adriatic air and limestone streets polished smooth by centuries of footsteps.

Climb the stairs, and you’ll arrive on Uz Jezuite Street, where the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the former Jesuit College, known as the Collegium Ragusinum (or Ragusa College), occupy pride of place. The staircase was deliberately planned to draw the eye upward, emphasizing the importance of the church and the college in the Baroque layout of this part of the Old Town.

At the foot of the stairs lies Gundulić Square, a lively market space where local vendors sell fruit, vegetables, honey, and other produce brought in from nearby villages. The atmosphere is cheerful and busy most mornings. But if you happen to be here right as the clock tower strikes noon, prepare for a rather theatrical moment. Within seconds, the square fills with a sudden flurry of wings as dozens—sometimes hundreds—of pigeons descend to feast on the grain scattered here daily. The spectacle can feel a bit like stepping into a scene from Hitchcock’s The Birds movie, only with fewer screams and more curious onlookers...

And then, of course, there’s the moment that made these steps famous far beyond Dubrovnik. The Jesuit Stairs doubled as the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor in the HBO series Game of Thrones. This is where Cersei Lannister begins her infamous Walk of Atonement in Season 5, Episode 10, titled “Mother’s Mercy.” From here, her uneasy journey through King’s Landing unfolds across several Old Town locations. After descending these very steps, the route continues along Od Margarite Street, then through Saint Dominic Street, and finally toward Ploče Gate.

So, as you stand here, you’re not merely looking at a fine piece of Baroque urban design—you’re standing at the starting point of one of television’s most unforgettable walks. Just thankfully without the chanting crowd...