Test Route GTG
Provided by:
Demo
Test route
Audio guides available in:
Hrvatski, English (British)
Route available for purchase at the Voice of Norway store.
To find more content and listen to free audio guides, download the Voice of Norway app.
Provided by:
Demo
Test route
To find more content and listen to free audio guides, download the Voice of Norway app.
Stradun is the heart of old Dubrovnik – the main street, about 300 meters long, connecting the two most important city entrances: the Pile Gate in the west and the Ploče Gate in the east. What is now an indispensable promenade was created back in the 9th century, when the people of Dubrovnik filled in the sea channel that once divided two settlements – Ragusa and Dubrava. This is how Dubrovnik as we know it today was created. Walking along Stradun, you walk on large stone slabs that are so smooth that the people of Dubrovnik call them "salon street". After the great earthquake of 1667, the entire street was rebuilt in the Baroque style, and every detail of the construction was strictly regulated: shops on the ground floor, apartments on the upper floors, and kitchens and storage rooms in the attic – all for fire safety. At the beginning and end of Stradun are two famous fountains – the Great and Small Onofrio's Fountain – and two bell towers: the city and the Franciscan. The biggest events are held here, such as the procession for the Feast of St. Blaise, and the New Year's Eve on Stradun is regularly ranked among the most popular in Europe. The name "Stradun" comes from the Venetian term for a long street, while locals often use the name "Placa", which comes from the Latin word for street or square. Interestingly, Stradun has also been the location for filming scenes of popular world series and films, including "Game of Thrones", which further increased its popularity among tourists.
The Small Onofrio's Fountain is not just a decoration at the eastern end of Stradun, but a true reminder of how advanced a city Dubrovnik was back in the 15th century. It was built in 1438 according to the idea of the Neapolitan architect Onofrio della Cave, who also designed the Great Onofrio's Fountain. The Small Fountain was a key source of drinking water for residents and merchants, especially for the market on Trg Luža, and immediately became a part of the city's daily life. Located in a niche in the wall of the former Main Guard, the fountain is made of stone, and its octagonal basin is decorated with reliefs of boys, dolphins and shells. At the top are kneeling boys with water flowing through their hands. These motifs show a blend of Gothic and Renaissance, and the stonework was done by Pietro di Martino from Milan. One interesting fact that you may not have known: the water that came to the Small Onofrio's Fountain traveled as far as 12 kilometers from the Šumet spring in Rijeka dubrovačka, through the then revolutionary city waterworks. This waterworks was more than 11 kilometers long and passed through the lower slopes of Srđ, and the reservoir from which the water flowed also powered the mills near Minčeta. The fountain also had a social role - in the Middle Ages it was used exclusively by Christians, while the Dubrovnik Jews had their own fountain, which was later moved to Brsalje. This division clearly shows what the relations between the different communities in Dubrovnik were like at that time. Over the centuries, the fountain has been damaged several times, but it has always been restored. The last major renovation was in 1996, after the Homeland War, when it was restored to its original appearance. Today, the Small Onofrio's Fountain is a frequent motif on postcards and an unavoidable gathering place, especially during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Another interesting fact: a new renovation of the fountain due to corrosion and scale in the installations began in early 2025. The work includes a thorough cleaning of the pipelines, replacement of damaged parts, and restoration of stone details, all under the strict supervision of conservators, so that this historic fountain can continue to be the pride of Dubrovnik.