Lazareti – Dubrovnik

Lazareti is located in Dubrovnik, more precisely some 300 metres from the walls of Dubrovnik. It is a smaller complex of old, interconnected buildings, whose purpose was to protect citizens from possible diseases during the time of the Republic of Dubrovnik. We know that Dubrovnik was an important port city, and that it received travellers from all parts of the world. Because of this, the Grand Council of the Republic of Dubrovnik, on 27 July 1377, passed a decision by which quarantine was introduced for the first time in the world as a measure of protection against the introduction and spread of infectious diseases. At that time there was particular fear of the plague. This decision was published in the so-called Green Book (Liber viridis) under the title Veniens de locis pestiferis non intret Ragusium nel districtum, which translated means „Whoever comes from infected regions shall not enter Dubrovnik or its territory“.

Both locals and foreigners coming from plague-stricken regions had to enter the Lazareti. They spent 30 days in this complex, so that it could be seen whether they were ill or not.

In a decision from 1397, it was decided that foreigners and their ships could not sail west of Molunat nor east of Mljet. The same Decision also established quarantine on the island of Mrkan, where at that time there was a Franciscan monastery, and on Mljet, where there was a Benedictine monastery.

Because of the great distance, but also for strategic reasons, in the 15th century the quarantine was moved closer to Dubrovnik. At the beginning of the 15th century there was a lazaretto in Dubrovnik at Dance. For this purpose, in 1430 certain houses in the city park of Gradac were set aside, and from 1457 a lazaretto was built at Dance, along with a church beside it. The good organisation of this lazaretto made it possible to completely abandon the quarantine on the islands near Cavtat.

In 1533 construction began on a lazaretto at Lokrum. Although a large rectangular lazaretto was built, it was never completed or used for quarantine. At the end of the 15th century a decision was made to build a lazaretto at Ploče. Construction of the lazaretto at Ploče began in 1590, and was completed in 1642. The duration of quarantine was extended from thirty to forty days, and health workers known as kacamorti supervised the implementation and observance of the quarantine regulations.

The relocation of the lazaretto to Ploče marks the growth of this institution beyond the framework of maritime sanitation into a sanitary cordon facing the mainland.

Today's Lazareti and the tourist offer of the place

Today this settlement beside Dubrovnik offers insight into the history of the city, as well as into world history – especially when it comes to seafaring and the diseases that were feared. Besides this historical window, Lazareti is today a popular tourist destination and a venue for various cultural and musical events.

Club Lazareti is one of the better-known and most content-rich venues in this area. It is visited by guests from all over the world, and because of the diversity of its programme, there is something for everyone.

Club Lazareti today represents a club scene integrated into the programmes of the Lazareti Art Workshop. It operates as part of an independent centre for cultural production. The club is located in Dubrovnik's historic quarantine complex, stretching east of the Old Town and divided into sections for music, theatre, workshops, an art gallery, and other interesting events and happenings.

Today this part of the suburb is known for the development of urban culture, dating back to the early 1970s.

Today, in its desire to attract a year-round club audience, Club Lazareti develops monthly and weekly programmes of events and parties, and there are, of course, also concerts and live performances.

The club consists of an interactive stage and is a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces of Dubrovnik's Lazareti. It consists of three separate levels: the club's interior space, a terrace and a beach. The entrance to the beach has one of the most attractive views of the Old Town's historic harbour.