Dubrovnik and Dalmacija travel guide

Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik
The Rector of Dubrovnik wielded very little real power. Nominal head of the
government, he was in office for a single month, during which he had to live
away from his family and was only allowed to leave the palace on official
business. The original building, more castle than palace, was blown up in 1435.
The new building erected on the site had to be restored after another explosion
in 1463, and again after the earthquake of 1667; today’s palace is a hybrid of
Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Dubrovnik no longer has a rector, but
his opulent residence still plays an important role in the cultural life of the city.
Top 10 Sights
Gothic Loggia
Atrium
Statue of Miho Pracat
Gunduli Portrait
Statues of St Blaise
Prison Cells
Stairs
Inscription
Sedan Chairs
Rector’s Study
Dubrovnik & the Dalmatian Coast
Latin inscription at the top
of the stairs
The recently
renovated Gradska
Kavana is a café fit
for a Rector, with
views across Luža
Square and down the
Stradun on one side
and out onto the old
port on the other.
The windows on
the first floor make
a perfect spot for
photographing both
the cathedral and the
displays of folk
dancing that
sometimes take
place in the street
below. If you find the
windows open, just
pop out your lens
and shoot.
• Pred Dvorom 3
• Map J5
• 020 321 437
• Open 9am–6pm daily
• Adm charge 20kn;
discount for groups
Gothic Loggia
This ornately carved
loggia (above) was built
using marble from the
Dalmatian island of
Korula. In the middle of
the parade of Gothic
columns and capitals
are three in the
Renaissance style.
Atrium
This compact
open-air space offers
a suitably grand welcome
to visitors and, today, also
serves as a venue for
cultural events, such as
recitals by the Dubrovnik
Symphony Orchestra.
Rector’s Palace
Statue of Miho
Pracat
Taking pride of place in
the atrium is Piero Paolo’s
17th-century statue of
shipping magnate
Miho Pracat (left), from
the nearby island
of Lopud. Dying
without an heir, he
left his all
his wealth to
the Republic
of Ragusa.
Gunduli Portrait
This is one of the few
portraits in existence
of Dubrovnik’s most
celebrated poet, Ivan
Gunduli (1588–1638).
14
Keep your eyes peeled for statues of St Blaise dotted around the
Old City.