The fountains may be centuries old, but the water is still as fresh and safe to drink as ever.
As you approach the western end of Dubrovnik’s beautiful Stradun, you will notice an ornate stone structure which looks almost like a small shrine. As you get closer, however, you realise that this is in fact the famous large Onofrio’s Fountain, which has provided the citizens of the Old Town with fresh drinking water for nearly 600 years.
In Dubrovnik’s early days as a city-state, the city relied on rain for fresh drinking water. The system was intricate in its own way, with rain channelled off the rooftops into cisterns for storage, but it still left the city in big trouble if there were several weeks without rain. At times, the droughts would get so bad that enterprising individuals would fill hundreds of barrels with fresh water from nearby springs and bring them into the port on ships to sell to the thirsty citizens of Dubrovnik at extortionate rates.
In 1436, the authorities finally decided that enough was enough, and commissioned Onofrio Giordano della Cava to oversee the construction of an aqueduct running from a well, some 12km away, directly into the city centre. Onofrio built two fountains at either end of Stradun which were to mark the ends of the aqueduct. The larger fountain was a magnificent sixteen-sided edifice, with each side sporting a “maskeron” (masked face) from whose mouth a tap protruded. Sadly the maskerons were damaged in a recent round of renovations, but you can still make some of them out. The small Onofrio’s fountain is a less grand affair, but is centred around a beautiful sculpture by the Milanese artist Petar Martinov.
The medieval Old Town of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO-protected and remarkably well-preserved area, featuring distinctive limestone streets lined with beautiful buildings that tell the stories of centuries past. From the city’s foundation in the 7th Century to its illustrious era as a city-state and major maritime trading hub known as the Ragusa Republic. Our private 3-hour history and heritage tour peels back the layers of Dubrovnik, revealing its most intriguing tales through a carefully curated selection of key landmarks.
On this private 3-hour tour, you will:
For those who want a deeper introduction to Dubrovnik, this immersive three-hour private tour offers a comprehensive look into the city's incredible history and its architectural masterpieces. Led by a knowledgeable local expert guide, the itinerary is designed for those seeking meaningful context behind the beauty of Dubrovnik’s Old Town.
The tour begins at the monumental Pile Gate, where stone walls and drawbridges hint at the military might that kept this small republic fiercely independent for centuries. From there, you will step into a city that seems untouched by time. You’ll take a moment to check out Onofrio’s Fountain, and learn about the man who gave it his name, a renowned architect who brought engineering ingenuity from Naples to serve the needs of a growing maritime power in the 15th Century. Your guide will then lead you through the peaceful cloisters of the Franciscan Monastery complex, home to a library of rare manuscripts, a Romanesque church, and one of the oldest continuously operating pharmacies in Europe, established in the early 14th century. More than a religious site, you’ll discover how the monastery is a living link to Dubrovnik’s humanitarian and intellectual roots.
As you stroll along Stradun, the gleaming central boulevard, your guide will explain the different stages of Dubrovnik’s development, from its early Slavic origins and Byzantine ties to its peak as the Republic of Ragusa, a sophisticated city-state whose diplomatic finesse and maritime trading networks rivalled those of Venice. You’ll soon find yourself in Luža Square, a major gathering place for centuries, framed by the harmonious facades of the Sponza Palace and the stately City Bell Tower. While many pass these landmarks with a glance, your guide will reveal Sponza's former lives as a customs house, mint, and now the city archives, as well as the specially built statues installed within the Bell Tower, which have become beloved local emblems.
You will also have the chance to visit the Rector’s Palace, once the seat of power for elected leaders of the Republic. You’ll walk through chambers that blend Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, reflecting the city’s architectural evolution. Your guide can regale you with stories of justice, diplomacy, and scandal, all played out within these elegant walls. After leaving the palace, you’ll spend some time in the magnificent Dubrovnik Cathedral. Built on the ruins of earlier churches and adorned with precious relics, you’ll see how it can be seen as an enduring symbol of the city’s resilience, rebuilt in Baroque style after the devastating 1667 earthquake.
Your tour concludes in Gundulić Square, a charming enclave that hosts a daily morning market, named after Ragusa’s most renowned poet. Before bidding goodbye to your guide, you’ll get plenty of recommendations on where to eat, what to explore next, and how to make the most of your time in this extraordinary city. Thoughtfully paced and rich with historical insight, this experience is ideal for travellers eager to move beyond the postcard views and understand what truly made Dubrovnik one of the great cultural capitals of the Mediterranean.
Known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most beautiful and historic cities. Its spectacular coastal setting, combined with its well-preserved medieval Old Town, never fails to captivate visitors. Embarking on a private tour led by a local expert guide is a wonderful way to get a crash course in Dubrovnik’s history and culture, navigating the cobbled streets with ease and getting a feel for what makes the city special.
On your 2-hour private walking tour, you will:
Delve into the stories of Dubrovnik’s Old Town on a private walking tour designed for curious travellers eager to uncover the city's rich past and vibrant present. Your journey begins at the imposing Pile Gate, the historic western entrance that has welcomed visitors into the walled city since the 15th century. From there, you’ll step onto centuries-old limestone streets and immediately feel the atmosphere of a place where time seems to stand still.
Your guide will lead you to Onofrio's Fountain, a masterpiece of medieval engineering that once supplied the entire city with fresh water, before pausing outside the serene Franciscan Monastery. Here, nestled behind cloistered arcades, lies one of Europe’s oldest still-functioning pharmacies, dating back to 1317. As you continue along the gorgeous, gleaming stretch of Stradun, Dubrovnik’s most famous street, your guide will regale you with stories of merchants, nobles, and commoners who once crossed the same polished stones.
Once you make your way through Luža Square, the symbolic heart of the city, you’ll be surrounded by a cluster of architectural gems. You will admire the stately Sponza Palace and learn how this elegant building transitioned over the centuries from a customs house to a mint, and now, a city archive. You’ll take a moment to gaze up at the nearby City Bell Tower, where the beloved bronze “Green Men” still strike the bell each hour as they have for hundreds of years. Outside the Rector’s Palace, you'll hear about the powerful leaders who ruled the Republic of Ragusa, a thriving and independent maritime state located in present-day Dubrovnik that once rivalled Venice in influence and wealth. A short walk away, you can take in the grandeur of Dubrovnik Cathedral, where your guide can reveal its turbulent history and point out some of the intriguing Baroque details in the facade.
Your tour will conclude amid the lively and colourful Gundulić Square Market, where locals shop for seasonal fruits, herbs, olive oil, and lavender. It’s the perfect place to soak in the daily rhythm of Dubrovnik life, pick up some unique souvenirs, ask your guide for tailored recommendations, and plan how to spend the rest of your stay, whether it’s walking the mighty city walls, exploring hidden coves, or sampling seafood at a tucked-away konoba.
This rich introduction to Dubrovnik is ideal for first-time visitors looking to make the most of their time while gaining a deeper appreciation for one of Europe’s most enchanting coastal cities.
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