In the port city of Dubrovnik, Croatia

 “Absolutely amazing; Dubrovnik is breathtaking.” -- Cara McLeay

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(in the region of Dalmatia in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia) Often referred to as the “Pearl of the Adriatic," the port city of Dubrovnik occupies a promontory jutting into the sea under the limestone mass of Mount Srdj. The port’s sea fortifications rise directly from the water’s edge and the round tower of the Minc̆eta Fortress dominates the city on the landward side. (The old city of Dubrovnik was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.)

+ This city was founded about 614 as Rausa, or Ragusium, by Roman refugees fleeing the Slav and Avar sack of Epidaurus (to the southeast). A colony of Slavs joined the Romans here, and from an early date the city formed a link between two great civilizations. After the fall of Rome, Dubrovnik was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. From the 9th to the 12th century Dubrovnik defended itself against foreign powers, and in the period 1205-to-1358 it acknowledged Venetian suzerainty, though it retained much of its independence. The city-republic was liberal in character, affording asylum to refugees of all nations -- one of them, according to legend, was King Richard I (the Lionheart) of England, who landed on the offshore island of Lokrum in 1192 on his return from the Crusades. After abolishing the slave trade in 1418, and by means of treaty and tribute, the city enlarged its territory along the Dalmatian coast. In 1272 it received a statute that incorporated Roman and local practices. Situated at the seaward end of overland trade routes to Byzantium and the Danube region, it became a great mercantile power; Ragusan land trade then flourished throughout the Balkans.

+ One of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, no matter how often one visits Dubrovnik these days, the sense of awe never fails to descend when you set eyes on the beauty of Dubrovnik's Old Town. Indeed it is hard to imagine anyone becoming jaded by the city’s limestone streets, baroque buildings, and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic, or failing to be inspired by a walk along the ancient city walls that protected the capital of a sophisticated republic for centuries.

+ Although the shelling of Dubrovnik in 1991 horrified the world, the city has bounced back with vigor to enchant visitors again. After undergoing repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, it re-emerged as one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations, as well as a popular filming location. Marvel at the interplay of light on the old stone buildings, trace the peaks and troughs of Dubrovnik's past in museums (replete with art and artefacts), take the cable car up to Mt Srđ, exhaust yourself climbing up and down narrow lanes, and then plunge into the deep blue sea.

+ Nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Dinaric Alps, Dubrovnik makes for an accessible and affordable city break for many travelers. (The pedestrian-only Old Town is especially charming.)