It is located in the far south of Croatia. Due to its favourable geographical location, Dubrovnik was a developed commercial and maritime centre. Dubrovnik is a port in the Adriatic Sea, protected by islands and connected to the land by the Neretva Valley. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Dubrovnik was the most important maritime and commercial centre of the Adriatic, together with Venice and Ancona.
Thanks to successful diplomacy Dubrovnik retained its independence, and the Republic of Ragusa, as it was known, flourished in the 16th century. Its prosperity was based on maritime affairs and trade. The decline of the Republic of Ragusa began in the 17th century due to adverse circumstances. Changes in maritime trade routes led to a maritime crisis on the Mediterranean, and Dubrovnik suffered a strong earthquake, followed by a fire soon after.
Dubrovnik became part of Dalmatia and Croatia at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
During the Homeland War in 1991, Dubrovnik was devastated, and many monuments were damaged. Fortunately, UNESCO helped in the renovation of the city.
Today, Dubrovnik is an important tourist destination, visited by about a million people every year, mostly from other countries.
Dubrovnik is a city where history meets urban living. Numerous events and manifestations keep the city alive throughout the year. A Mediterranean climate with mild winters and 250 sunny days a year make Dubrovnik a comfortable place to live in.