Stradun Street, Dubrovnik

Stradun Street, Dubrovnik (must see)

Stradun or Placa is the limestone-paved pedestrianized Main Street of Dubrovnik. It extends to around 1,000 feet through the walled Old Town. In the 13th century, a swampy channel ran where Stradun Street is today. The street reaches neatly in an east-west direction between the western Pile Gate to Ploce Gate in the east.

The Large Onofrio's Fountain and the Franciscan Monastery are found by Pile Gate. The Small Onofrio's Fountain and the Dubrovnik Bell Tower are at the other end of the street by Ploce Gate. Stradun's current appearance is the result of rebuilding after the devastating earthquake of 1667.

The buildings lining the street today are all "of a size" rather uniform in design. Before the quake, houses on the street had arcades and were elaborately decorated. Most were destroyed by the fire that followed the earthquake. After all the quaking and burning, the Republic generated laws regulating housing construction in the city.

So, the 13th-century street has 17th-century housing. Ground levels were designed with shop fronts under a semicircular arch. The first floor (2nd floor USA) was meant as a living space. The floors above held extra rooms and a kitchen loft.

Stradun has become a favorite esplanade for tourists. Processions and events are held in the street. The Feast of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of the city, passes through on the 3rd of February. There are concerts at other times and of course, New Year's Eve.

The best way to see Stradun is to walk the street. Take a seat at one of the many cafes. Have a drink and watch the passing throng. The steps of Saint Blaise Church offer a good vantage point. Then there's always Orlando's Column in Luza Square.

Erected in 1418, the knight Orlando stands with a sword and shield in a niche. Some say Orlando defeated Saracen pirates in the eighth century. It's only a legend, but Orlando is a monument to the freedom of Dubrovnik.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dubrovnik. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Stradun Street on Map

Sight Name: Stradun Street
Sight Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia (See walking tours in Dubrovnik)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Create Your Own Walk in Dubrovnik

Create Your Own Walk in Dubrovnik

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dubrovnik is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
City Walls Walking Tour

City Walls Walking Tour

Gazing down at the fortified city, you see a treasure trove of Gothic and Renaissance churches, monasteries, Venetian palaces and ornately carved fountains. They’re all crammed together with shuttered apartments, hole-in-the-wall boutiques and outdoor restaurants and cafés.

There are three different entrances to the Dubrovnik walls. One is at Pile Gate, one is at Ploce Gate (near the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Dubrovnik Introduction Walking Tour

Dubrovnik Introduction Walking Tour

One of the most visited cities in Croatia – comfortably situated on the Adriatic coast in the south of the country, Dubrovnik is a major seaport and historical location packed with numerous monuments and points of interest. Since 1979, the city has been listed as the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The history of Dubrovnik dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Game of Thrones Filming Sites Tour

Game of Thrones Filming Sites Tour

Dubrovnik has no shortage of picturesque sights: colorful roofs with terracotta tiles, impressive stone architecture, high-rising cliffs, and a stunning Old Town wall overlooking the wild Adriatic. It is mostly for this reason that the city was chosen as the main filming location for King's Landing, a fictional city in the world-famous TV series "Game of Thrones." If you're a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Historical Churches

Historical Churches

Throughout history, Dubrovnik’s citizens have had plenty of causes to ask God for help. And when they got it, they never forgot to express their gratitude. Oftentimes, it came in the form of newly built churches; hence an array of religious landmarks, some truly magnificent, found in the Old Town, constructed over the centuries.

One such architectural marvel is Saint Saviour's Church,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles