Stradun – Dubrovnik

A walk through Dubrovnik is something special, and of course we mean a walk through the Old Town along Stradun. Stradun, or Placa street in Dubrovnik, is the main street of the old town core. It is the most famous street in Dubrovnik overall, very busy and always beautifully maintained. The name "Stradun" comes from the Venetians and is a mocking name for a large street, while the name "Placa" comes from the Latin word "platea", meaning "street".

Many do not know that the site of today's Stradun was once marshy ground that separated Ragusa from Dubrava. It was only in the 9th century, by filling in the marsh, that the inhabitants created a single town.

Stradun stretches in an east-west direction, and lies between the city gates (the Pile Gate and the Ploče Gate). At the beginning and the end of Stradun there are also two fountains (the Big and the Small Onofrio's Fountain). There are also two bell towers (the City Bell Tower and the bell tower of the Franciscan church and monastery), and the whole of Stradun is paved with stone blocks, polished to the shine of a wooden parquet floor, which is why it is also called the „salon“ street.

A short history of Stradun

Today's appearance of Stradun does not come from distant history, as the street was in fact rebuilt after the catastrophic earthquake of 1667, when a large number of buildings were destroyed. We can see the original appearance in old pictures of Dubrovnik, which show and testify how the buildings on Stradun, before the earthquake, did not have such a typified appearance as today. Many buildings used to have arcades, like the Sponza Palace, and some were even more richly decorated. The present-day appearance of the buildings on Stradun dates from the period after the 1667 earthquake, when the Statute of the Republic of Dubrovnik determined the manner of building residential buildings. According to it, business premises with knee-high doors were built on the ground floor, while the large storeroom was entered from a side street. On the first floor was the living space, while the bedrooms were on the second floor. The kitchen and other utility rooms were always located in the attic. Despite the planned construction, even after the earthquake Dubrovnik was struck by a new disaster. A fire broke out in the City that destroyed a large number of residential and other buildings. The regulation requiring kitchens to be moved to the attic was meant to prevent the spread of fire.

Stradun ends at Luža Square in front of the City Bell Tower, thus encompassing a large number of important monuments within the old town core, and is therefore a favourite promenade of both the local population and foreign tourists.

Today Stradun is used for the ceremonial procession during the celebration of the Feast of St Blaise. The celebration is held on 3 February, and choosing to welcome the New Year on Stradun is proclaimed among the 10 best choices in the world every year.

Stradun is today the main open urban area of Dubrovnik. The most famous promenade in the city is at the same time its largest gathering place. It is the venue for all public feasts and processions, but also the main business street in the old town core. The most beautiful street divides the town into its northern and southern halves. At the same time, it is the shortest route of communication between the western and eastern city gates.The length of the promenade is some 300 metres.

Stradun came into being as a result of trade and growing socio-economic relations. It served above all the trade between the Greco-Roman settlement on the small island of Lave and the Croatian-Slavic settlement on the mainland.

Stradun today

Today Stradun is the beating heart of the Old Town and the main gathering place for all tourists. Guests who visit Dubrovnik will almost certainly take a walk along Stradun, browse the shops or sit down in one of the many hospitality venues.

Stradun is a special place of romance, history and culture. Here you will experience details from the rich history of this city, and learn a good deal about Dubrovnik and the former Republic of Dubrovnik.

Photographs taken on Stradun, without any additional effects, are literally breathtaking and will remain forever in beautiful memory. Visit Dubrovnik and enjoy a walk along Stradun.