Dalmatia: The other face of the Adriatic Sea

 

The demands of work (more or less forced) Sabrina have revolutionized the summer programs, so they did not want to completely give up our favorite hobby, which is known to travel, we were almost to improvise this holiday ... In the end we go for a week in a country close to us, Croatia, a young republic, founded in 1991 following a bloody war that led to the dismemberment of the then Yugoslavia. In particular, we go into a region: Dalmatia, which stretches south along the Adriatic coast, and that historically has long been linked to, but above all in Venice and its trade.
The alarm will sound very early, at 4:20, and about an hour later, at 5:34, let's officially start this new adventure.
After the intense heat of recent days, the rising of the sun realize the news is, while we go to Faenza, the sky is cloudy ... but at this stage the weather conditions are far from essential.
We follow the A14 north to 6:00 we are in Bologna, where the A13 turn, and a little later around Ferrara also begins to rain strong ... but at 7:00, while bypassing the city of Padua, check already a timid sun ... Then continue smoothly along the A4 and half later we are in Mestre, and then at 8:30 in Trieste.
We leave behind Italy to Slovenia, and then to enter 10:00 in Croatia and now we stop to change the currency, the kuna gaining necessary to the conduct of the trip.
Immediately across the border we enter into a motorway, but after a few kilometers away, in Rijeka, we are still in queue and spend almost an hour to get to the head ... The traffic is flowing and not lose much time after ... According to midday programs had to be in Zadar (Zara or in Italian), however at 13:00 we are still over one hundred and fifty kilometers away!
We stop for lunch in a pause and then resume the road, but we are now back in the queue to pass the Sveti Rok Tunnel, which works only two-way (to be completed in 2009) and lose another good hour. .. So we abandon the idea to start a visit to Zadar in Dalmatia.
We continue over to 16:30 and arrive in Sibenik (Šibenik o) ... Name is Julia, a lady who lives in nearby Vodice and our inter-related to my profession, we will host for the first two nights in an apartment owned by him ... Then, without perder tempo, we are about to consume our first visit to Croatia.
The town of Sibenik, founded in the tenth century, is less known of the most famous Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar, but we can assert that the time we decided to invest, beginning with its castle, the Castle of St. Anna, almost in complete ruin, but from which one can admire a beautiful landscape, the old city, the sea of red tiles, the churches and the Adriatic that s'insinua here between two narrow peninsulas ... Then descend, walking along narrow streets and picturesque, to the wonderful Cathedral of S. Giacomo (in partial restoration), one of the most fascinating of the whole region, built in the fifteenth century in a transitional style between Gothic and Renaissance dominant and a small square on this street are also several interesting buildings recently thoroughly refurbished.
Stylish and feature Sibenik town, with beautiful views, only pity for his old Venetian Loggia, completely hidden by a big stage ... Consoles us so with the view of some interesting religious buildings, such as the Gothic church of S. Barbara, or that of S. John, and scenic high bell tower, topped by the national flag.
In less than two hours we return to your car, definitely satisfied with this first taste of Croatia ... We then move a few kilometers away in nearby Vodice, known seaside resort in the region, where we meet Julia, who accompanies us to his house and the apartment that we will host ... Kind also gives us a coffee with biscuits and then leaves us to go in camera to make a refreshing shower, because we really need after the long day on the road to turn around the Adriatic.
For dinner we go out nell'anima center of Vodice, in the friendly tavern by Burin, and then, after a brief walk, we will withdraw, with the eyelids become heavy, consume a deserved rest.

Alarm clock not too late, and breakfast on the balcony of the apartment, then depart in the direction of Sibenik and arrived in the city deviamo inward to go and visit the Krka National Park, established in 1985 to preserve the course and the magnificent dell'omonimo river valley, which runs on karst terrain of the region has created a placid lake basins and roaring waterfalls ... In particular, we go in the area Skradinsky Buk, the most famous thanks to the spectacular sequence of jumps that the water feature.
Park your car in a large parking lot and then, using a bus service, we descend along a narrow and winding streets, great views from the outset on the bottom of the valley where the river flows.
Through a system of wooden walkways c'inoltriamo amid the thick vegetation, where water stagnates and first slips away, around rocks, bushes and roots, thus forming small streams, but also impetuous torrent that jumping into the void to be form a few meters down the other ponds and other shortcuts, all of gurgling always different and the persistent smell of musk ... A beautiful experience lasting about an hour that takes us behind Skradinsky Buk, where the last barrier travertine creates the most spectacular waterfall in the series, with the water ending his race in a large, placid reservoir.
Faced with Skradinsky Buk we stop for a while 'to contemplate yet another stage show put on by mother nature ... One could also make a bathroom, but not to below the waterfalls, so we renounce and begin the ascent of the path that, among beautiful views, takes us back to square one and leading the bus at the park.
E 'ormai noon when satisfied of the river, and regain the car we move towards the sea.
Walk a short stretch of motorway to the north and then exit and follow signs for Murter and the homonymous island.
We arrive on the coast in the town of Tisno, whose name literally means "close" ... a clear reference to the few meters that point away from the island of Murter, which we reach by crossing a small bridge.
The road then climbs, with eloquent views on frastagliatissimo coast towards the central part of and then back down to its northernmost tip, where the town of Murter ... Shortly before the center deviamo But we on the left towards Slanica Beach, which had far from home good references ... and indeed is a beautiful beach with a shoreline of gravel and a sandy bottom, but especially with a water from extraordinary reflexes.
The place is certainly worthy, not quite today, however, because it is Sunday and full of swimmers, but we have no alternative, and fatigue can carve our space between the other umbrellas.
Slanica Beach to spend the whole hot afternoon, trying several times in the refreshing sea, until, shortly after 18:00, we decide not to return to Vodice.
We make a refreshing shower and then go out for dinner again from Burin, where you can enjoy excellent fish ... There's less people around this evening: Missing from the Germans, who are watching the finals of European Football Germany-Spain ... but be disappointed, in fact a win will be the Iberian ... while we, completely unrelated to the events, they immediately go to sleep, because tomorrow morning we leave Vodice direct to the south.

It 'the last breakfast on the terrace in Vodice by Giulia. The salute while going to work, then we start with a car full of luggage again, towards Sibenik. Beyond the city and continue along the coast.
We pass around the town of Primosten and mid-morning we arrive in Trogir, a medieval village built on an island on horseback between the mainland and the much larger island of Ciovo, since 1997 included in Unesco World Heritage Site.
Park your car on the continent and, as it already does a nice hot c'incamminiamo to visit the historical center. Overridden by a narrow footbridge the stretch of sea front and in short we are in the south-west of the agglomeration, where the remains are well preserved Venetian castle of dell'interessante Camerlengo, dating from the fourteenth century.
We take some photos and then rises along the main pier, divided by the Trogirski Kanal dirimpettaia Ciovo Island, where luxurious yachts are moored and on this street are many historic buildings, creating beautiful views.
C'inoltriamo then in the heart of Old Town from Port Marine, next to the Benedictine Monastery of St. Nicola, to come in view of the Cathedral of St. Lorenzo and dell'omonima square, surrounded by other buildings, very interesting and well restored, as the intriguing Cippico Palace in Venetian Gothic style, the Clock Tower, the Loggia Post and severe Palazzo del Comune.
Carefully visit the Cathedral, which was driving one of the most beautiful in all of Croatia, built between the XII and XIII century and characterized by sublime portal, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, but also by the dramatic bell tower, from which you have a wonderful Glance on the roofs of brick across the old city.
Finally returned with their feet to the ground we walk for a while 'the narrow alleys between the center and slowly regain the car, concluding in this way, an amazing journey into the past.
Almost back at midday to follow the coastal road and passing through the town of Kastela, but also because of our uninterested, the castles that should characterize the area not even see the shadow.
We thus approximate to the city of Split (to us known as the Split), but given the hours we do not move towards the center, but the stadium in order to find the green areas surrounding a place to dine ... We find in the vicinity of its sports and consumed our traditional sandwiches go to a coffee bar in the nearby fans dell'Hajduk Split, known football club in the city.
In early afternoon we move towards the center of town. Park your car on the seafront and are starting to discover the main points of interest of the place, concentrated in a limited area, which practically coincides with the ancient Diocletian's Palace.
This exact point on the Dalmatian coast, in fact, the Roman emperor Gaius Valerius Diocletian, a native of the area, is built between the end of the third and early fourth century its magnificent palace, which once fell in ruins and occupied the population was transformed into a medieval village, to come down to us still partially legible in the urban fabric.
Bypassed the tower of the south-east and enter dall'orientale port Argentea to win, in short, the center of the Peristyle, a rectangular courtyard surrounded by columns, which on one side blend with the facades of some houses, now a square, but once the nerve center of the Palace, devoted to the cult of the deified. From here we entered the apartments, but also the Mausoleum of Diocletian, known persecutor of the Christian religion, which now ironically houses the Split Cathedral, dedicated to St. Doimo, martyred by the time its owner.
Next to the Cathedral is a sphinx of black basalt dating from the reign of Tutmosi III, get there from Egypt only to adorn the palace ... now seems to guard the door of religion, that we visit briefly inside, before getting on his high pyramidal tower, added more than a thousand years later, by which it has a wonderful view of the entire city center.
Since Peristyle, descending a staircase, access to the vestibule, the vast underground of the imperial apartments in an excellent state of preservation, which helps us to understand the large building overlooking the timing of its peak.
Re-emerged from the underground, now completely taken by that immense historical evidence is that the Palace of Diocletian, we look at what remains on the upper floor and the nearby Temple of Jupiter, turned into a baptistery in the Christian era and is still very well preserved.
Continuing the tour of the center exit from Iron Gate, to the west and reach the scenic Narodni Trg, harmonious square surrounded by old houses and Renaissance palaces, among which the ancient town hall and clock tower, dating from the fifteenth century .
Returned within the walls do a walk through the streets, leave momentarily from the Golden Gate to the north, looking at the bell tower of the Convent of the Benedictines and the statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin, which stand out on the edge of a green, and then abandon permanently from Porta Palazzo Argentea.
Extremely appagatati just concluded visit of regaining our car to move, a few hundred meters from the piers where the ferries leave for the islands of the Dalmatian ... Let's make the tickets to the company and Jadrolinija to 16:45 sharp staccato quay Split Assigned Island Brac.
The largest island in the central Dalmatia is just twelve kilometers south of the Palace of Diocletian, in whose construction contributed to the provision of his precious stone, has always exported throughout Europe and even in America, to build no less than the House Bianca.
After less than an hour of landing in the shipping port of Supetar, the capital of the island, and thence following the coast we come to the pretty village of Splitska, where we go inward.
Let for Skrip, remote village of ancient origins, and going, going come on top of the Vidova Gora, which with its 778 meters is the highest peak of the Croatian Islands ... From there the view on the south, where stands the beach Zlatni Rat, which we will visit tomorrow, and dirimpettaia on the Island of Hvar, which will see its guests in a couple of days. Sin only for the ubiquitous Mediterranean haze that diminishes an otherwise superb panorama.
I'm already past 19:00 and this intense day is coming to an end when we descend into the sea to the village of Bol, putting ourselves in search of a home for the next two nights ... We find the first attempt and re-arranged our stuff get out for dinner in the charming city center.
Eat discreetly nell'osteria podrum by the seaside, then, after a long and pleasant walk, we return to our new home for a deserved rest, and Providence.

After much traveled road and the first days of intensive visits, we give a full relaxation of healthy, fully dedicated to the sea.
We stand up with some 'more calm, eat breakfast outdoors under the pergola of kiwifruit of our new apartment and then made the daily expenditure, we are approaching the nearby beach Zlatini Rat, the main reason why we came on the Island of Brac ... Indeed it is the most famous beach in all of Croatia, often portrayed, seen from above, on a wide variety of travel magazines, a real tip, all of which rounded pebbles wedged nell'azzurrissimo Adriatic Sea .. . so blue that does not seem to even him, if compared to how we know we Romagna.
We do not know if in addition to being the most famous is also the most beautiful beach in the region, but at first glance is really a jewel nestled in the Dalmatian coast, mainly thanks to the wonderful setting, with the green pine forest in the center and the beach all around, but even with the impressive silhouette of Vidova Gora on one side and the other the mountainous silhouette of the island Hvar, where we go tomorrow.
Place the umbrella with our stuff on the western side of Zlatni Rat, the same which is partly tolerated nudism, and immediately run to consume water in a beautiful bath, it being one of those long beautiful waves, and then later a other, and yet another ...
Over time, however, gradually increase the wetting and the place is pretty crowded, but still living ... Certainly, in August will be a reach bagnasciuga!
In the early afternoon it raises a troublesome wind that ripples the water, all at the expense of transparency, so we change to 17:00 across the beach and go to the eastern ... where the air is still strong and the sea flat and beautiful, so, for a change, we honor him with a long bath.
We remain at Zlatni Rat until the sun disappears beyond the pine forest behind us, then we do a walk sull'incredibile fin tip of the beach and then we go, met, to the apartment.
For dinner we go of course in the center of Bol, this time to Pizzeria Topolino ... but in spite of the name still eat good fish there and then withdraw quietly into our accommodation, an unforgettable closing day by the sea.

It 'time to leave the island of Brac, and we do so with care so as not to miss the ferry departing at 9:00 from Sumartin, at the far eastern tip, the town of Makarska, on the continent.
Arrive half an hour to board with advantage, so we have enough time to do the tickets, then, in perfect time, the ferry of dissolves Jadrolinija off their moorings and quay Sumartin ... The sea is calm and there is a splendid sun, but now the mist is flying every record and it is a shame because while browsing the landscape, the islands of Brac and Hvar and the towering peaks of the Massif Biokovo toward the coast, it would be amazing.
The crossing takes forty-five minutes instead of thirty declared, and when landing in the port of Makarska we realize now that anybody will be able to take the next ferry departing at 10:30 from Drvenik town, which lies about thirty miles, to that of Sucuraj, on the Island of Hvar.
We then head south along the winding state, accompanied by a discrete traffic and other towns to be overcome, and peniamo not little, but we get to board two minutes before departure. On the pier there is still a queue of cars waiting to board sull'imbarcazione, so I rushed to make the tickets and those waiting patiently in their hands our turn, but when you tell us that there is no more room! ... Damn, we were just us grounded! ... So I insist because I do try and was granted permission by a maneuver by Carthusian, the car stuck between the back rows and the entrance ramp, using the residue cm ... Bingo! ... The next ferry was at midday, already at 11:00 landing in the charming port of Sucuraj, at the far eastern tip of Hvar.
Hvar (Hvar or, in Italian) is perhaps the most famous island, a fascinating tourist and of Dalmatia, not the largest, but certainly one of the longest, with its 68 kilometers that wind from east to west, crossed the its narrow part facing to the east by a single winding path, the same that we are forced to travel to reach its destination.
After over an hour of curves and ups between pleasing landscapes we arrive in the town of Jelsa and then turn a road s'avventura direction dell'accidentata south coast.
Overcome, with a narrow, dark tunnel of more than a kilometer, on the top of the island and emerge from the stern coast, beaten by a narrow ribbon of asphalt that we follow for a long stretch to the west, to the remote village of Sveta Nedjelja. There he parked the car, near the tiny harbor, and on foot, in a few minutes, just as we reach the tiny beach of the country ... davvero carina, between the rocks overlooking the sea and washed by the waters wonderful ... where now we run a refresh.
Lunch and then spend the whole afternoon to Sveta Nedjelja in complete relax, until the sun goes away over the rocks and the shadow finally takes the upper hand ... Then walk back across the road along the coast, then the tunnel and go on the other side of the town of Stari Grad, where we find accommodation for the next two evenings in beautiful and panoramic position not far from the center.
It places a little 'and then go out to dinner, near the port characteristic, nell'osteria Svijezda Mora ... eat again, and really good prices and then we go in camera to test our new reading, meditating, now in mid-journey on this beautiful Croatian experience.

Alarms and breakfast on the terrace of our apartment with a magnificent view over the port of Stari Grad ... and if the good days you can see from this morning will be a good day.
Let Stari Grad, beautiful and historic town that traces its origins even at the Greek, and we are heading west towards the capital, and the town of Hvar. But we do not follow the new road, which by means of a convenient tunnel will result in a short time at the destination, but the old path that climbs the hills, a short distance from the steep coast, beyond remote villages, offering excellent views on surrounding islands, including the Brac where we were only yesterday morning.
Along the way there are endless grids of dry stone walls and numerous plantations, wild or otherwise, of fragrant lavender, shrub typical of the island, whose color contrasts with the bright yellow broom.
Curve after the other so we get about half a morning in the town of Hvar, an important seaport during the years of Venetian domination, when the town was developed to take on the character then reached almost intact to this day.
The old town is rightly prohibited the circulation, and then parked the car in first suburbs and on foot in few minutes we reach the scenic Trg Sveti Stjepana, according to the inhabitants the largest square dell'Adriatico after that of S. Marco in Venice, on this street are the beautiful Cathedral of St. Stephen and many characteristic buildings, such as the Arsenal, which built in the seventeenth century served as a depot of arms and gunpowder.
At the bottom of the square there is a marina which overlooks the Palace Hotel, the oldest of the island, built in 1899, which hosted the beginning of the twentieth century, for a short period, including Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, more known to history simply as Sissi.
Walking through the narrow alleys and along the main wharf come up all'intrigante Franciscan convent, surrounded by trees, then to climb back up to that of the Benedictines, where the cloistered nuns produce beautiful lace with a little vegetable derived dall'agave , that would be a nice remembrance of the place, but the prices are exorbitant to say the least, and I renounce.
We conclude this way, almost at noon, the interesting visit to the town of Hvar and welcome the wonderful morning spent between nature and history go there looking for a beach in the south-west of the island.
Descend from the main road in the seaside town of Milna and parked the car go first in the country's main beach, then in the most intimate and genuine which is beyond the camp ... all rounded pebbles (one standard Croatian) and bathed by a crystalline sea.
A Milna spend, spensieratamente, the entire afternoon between sunbathing and transparent waters, indeed c'intratteniamo on the beach much more than usual, to beyond 19:00 ... so we return to the apartment almost an hour later and arrive for dinner a little 'long ... We go once again in the center of Stari Grad, the Krka tavern, continuing very pleased with the care of the fish "... and then run to rest because tomorrow morning we will shift and we expect a levataccia.

The alarm will sound good now, at 6:00 ... and after six days of almost uninterrupted full sun this morning is cloudy, but do not despair, because there is no bad weather, and the first part of the day today will be dedicated solely to the transfer.
Loaded all the luggage we leave Stari Grad ... and traveled a few hundred meters para before our eyes the blade of the Croatian police ... Mea culpa: I had not yet established their seat belts and I take five hundred kunas fine (but at least no points taken away the license) ... if the good days you can see from this morning will not be a good day!
Thanks to the forced stop, we must go with some 'concern over the whole island of Hvar (perhaps risking a fine!) And arrive at Sucuraj just in time to board the ferry for 8:15, we will report on the mainland, a Drvenik.
We landed on the mainland along the coast to the south for twenty miles and come in attractive little town of Ploce there waiting to get another ferry, which will lead us in the home of Trpanj, on the Peljesac Peninsula, saving a beautiful stretch of road.
At 10:15 a.m. in the craft section of the company Jadrolinija mooring and spring breaks away from the pier ... is little more than a Bagnarola, but performs its job well and in about an hour brings us to the destination.
Without time we lose the short stretch of road that divides us from the town of Orebic, where saliremo on the third and final ferry of the day to arrive on the Island of Korcula, but does not arrive in time to that of 11.30 and we have to wait for that of 12:30 p.m. ... Meanwhile, as expected, the sky has cleared the clouds and returned to a beautiful sun shine.
While waiting for boarding to take them the interesting look of Orebic promenade, dotted with old buildings and features, among which the so-called "Captains of the Villas, elegant houses in which sailors lived and retired officers, some have been carefully restored, others, unfortunately, quite decadent.
Sailing at the predetermined time of Korcula, one of the largest islands of Dalmatia, with its 47 kilometers long and almost seven in width, still largely not disfigured by mass tourism ... and this time the crossing is very short, because in about fifteen minutes we overcome the narrow stretch of sea that divides the peninsula of Peljesac.
Given the late hours now, the first shadow along the road we stop to have lunch with our sandwiches and then, immediately afterwards, we go to visit the capital, which bears the same name of the island.
The town of Korcula, from ancient origins, was a Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Slavic, but it was, like almost all the historic towns of the region under the domination of the Venetian Republic, which reached its maximum splendor. The testimony also place winged lion above the entrance to the medieval village, over a delightful stone bridge.
Just inside the walls there are in a tiny little square on this street are the Town Hall and the sixteenth-century Church of San Michele. From there, the narrow part and the principal characteristic, from which a fish bone of the secondary spread, slightly downhill towards the sea, straight to the west so as not to impede the Mistral, a gentle wind, and slightly curved to the east to prevent the cold bora infile there with too much force.
Walking in a short reach in the central Trg Marka Svetog, dominated by the Cathedral of St. Marco, the most beautiful monument of the village, built from 1420 and marked out by the magnificent portal flanked by two lions (symbol of Venice).
On the other side of the square are rather beautiful exhibition buildings and Arner Gabriellis important to families who did his time in the history of the city ... But the most famous of Korcula is, according to local scholars, Marco Polo, born a few tens of meters from the Cathedral in a building now partly in ruins. Italian historians are not agree and say has seen the light on the Island of Rialto in Venice ... Of course, the dispute will never end, but meanwhile immortalized what remains of his alleged stay.
Continuing to walk through the narrow alleys of the center since we arrived on the walls and along a beautiful stretch we are finally at the point of departure of the tour of this first part of the afternoon ... Filled with so let's go back to your culture and soon after we leave in search of a beach where you can spend the rest of the day.
Almost a sure shot to go about half dell'accidentata south coast of the island, in the deep bay of Luka Pupnatska, on which I had good directions ... In fact it is a beautiful semi-inlet, with a dense vegetation on the sides and a pebble beach at the bottom, washed by a warm and inviting, crystal clear sea. A wonderful bathing experience that is worth doing, despite the access road for long stretches dirt and not easy.
The beach is not crowded and you are fine, with in front of us in the distance, the island of Lastovo (material for another vacation) and you spend the whole afternoon, until we decide to go to looking for a room for the next night.
We find a good spot near the center of Korcula and in the evening we go out for dinner at the tavern Raciska on the walls of the old city, ending another beautiful day with dignity.

Inaugurating the day to pass in Croatia on the terrace with sea view from our room, consuming a nice relaxing breakfast and padded silently in the early hours of the morning ... Then, shortly after 8:00, we started and we are preparing to leave the island of Korcula.
Sailing with the 9:00 ferry, and once landed up the long Orebic Peljesac Peninsula with beautiful views over the coast and severe dirimpettaia on the island of Mljet, partly overshadowed dall'onnipresente misty Mediterranean.
Almost in sight of the highway, in the home of Ston, we stop to photograph the so-called "Great Wall of Dalmatia", a huge defensive works built during the Venetian era to counter the Ottoman invasions, which in this crossing point across the width of the peninsula Peljesac.
Following the main southerly route Dalmatian, shortly before noon, we reach for the famous city of Dubrovnik (historically known as Ragusa), our destination for a reference to this Croatian holiday ... We do not go, however, directly in the center but continue for a few kilometers along the coastal road, so you can enjoy from the most famous view of the old town, enclosed within its mighty walls, the intensity of the blue Adriatic Sea, and included by ' in Unesco World Heritage List.
The vantage point is very broad and rada you notice at least five cruise ships, more in place there is a small bar with umbrellas that let you enjoy the show cool, so I take this opportunity to have lunch with the eyes facing an enviable curtain.
In early afternoon we descend to the town, Brig enough to find parking, but in the end, shortly after 13:00, we make our triumphant entry from Port of Ploce in overtime bastions, erected several times between the sixth and the sixteenth century .
The medieval setting is perfect and the incredible warm (at least 35 degrees) ... with these excuses are we going to start the visit of one of the most beautiful cities of Europe.
Alongside the old Convent of the Dominicans, the long staircase, constructed as to be unable to see the ankles of the ladies who once climbed, we arrived on the eastern end of the beautiful Placa ... On what is the wide main street of the old town, originally a canal and then filled carefully paved, expect a parade of impressive buildings from the architectural uniformity. Especially on this side stands the Palazzo Sponza, a wonderful example of Renaissance building erected at the beginning of the sixteenth century and flanked by the most recent Clock Tower ... But we can not help but notice, just in front, the so-called Column of Orlando, with the statue of the famous champion, who apparently helped the city to free themselves from the pirates that the besieging Arabs.
Leaving the left side of the baroque church of S. Biagio come in front of the Palazzo dei Rettori severe, characterized by the beautiful Renaissance portico, once the seat of government and, indeed, the rector of Ragusa (the equivalent of the Venetian doge).
Nearby is the Cathedral of St. Maria Maggiore, built in Baroque style by Italian architects to replace the previous one, destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1667.
Walking through the narrow alleys south until we reach the Palace of Rupa, where there are some big was dug in the rock, who hold the granary of the city. So I take this opportunity to observe, along with a small ethnographic museum.
Returned to fresh air we head back toward the center and then towards the Placa, this time to follow up its most western end where the large monastery of the Franciscans, where he established one of the oldest pharmacies d ' Europe, active since 1317, but closed its doors at 14:00 and not reopen in the afternoon ... sin.
Next to the monastery there is the interesting Renaissance Church of SS. Salvatore and directly opposite to that the monumental Fountain of Onofrio, circular in shape, built in 1438 to celebrate the completion of the work of the new aqueduct.
We are now near Pile Gate, the main gate of entry to the old town, and from there climb to the top of the walls, so the stretch to go to sea ... The views on the red roofs of Dubrovnik from the road patrol is beautiful, pity only for the incredible heat that prevents us from fully godercele.
Descend to the ground after half an hour under the burning sun, near the port and returned to Placa conclude our tour of the city, regaining the car and its precious air conditioning.
Around to 15:30 we leave behind Dubrovnik, wonderful historical testimony came virtually intact until the present day ... and are almost the chills to think that only in the last decade he ran the risk of going completely destroyed in the bombing of the Serbian-Montenegrin!
We shall now dispatched to the north, in fact this afternoon has in practice starting on our journey of return ... After a few tens of kilometers passing through a stretch of coast that for some reason, historical or geographical belonging to Bosnia-Herzegovina and in accordance with the road map in our possession seem to be completely uninhabited, there is Neum, a town of large size .
We returned to Croatia across the winding road along the coast almost to Split, so much more comfortable and smooth highway to Sibenik, to arrive in the evening now in Vodice, where we expect to host Giulia in the night's trip to Dalmatia .
For dinner we go back to the tavern where Burin eat excellent fish ... and when we return to our apartment to learn by phone have become uncles (and cousin Frederick) ... Welcome little James!

Destination Italy ... The alarm is very early to avoid as much as possible gl'ingorghi, so let Vodice at 6:20 and quarter of an hour later we enter into direct highway to the north.
After the exit Zadar to leave the coast and begin to climb to share with the outside temperature which takes to fall substantially, and at 8:00, when we allow ourselves to be right on the ramp to Otocac and the famous Plitvice Lakes, around We've got a dense fog.
Going smoothly later put on the Rijeka-Zagreb and at 9:00 transiting near Rijeka, and then forty minutes later we are at the customs between Croatia and Slovenia and at 11:00 o'clock in Italy, in Trieste.
Now, let's to the south, on the A4. Pass free of the dreaded area of Mestre and take the A13, shortly after Padova (at 13:00), we stop in an area of service to lunch.
The break in the sun is short and even half an hour after we return to grind kilometers, so at 14:30 we are in Bologna, then onto the A14, at 15:00 at Faenza and quarter of an hour later before the gate of our house, which officially ends this journey.
What say Dalmatian ... land so close but a long time, perhaps too long, for us unknown. One can say that its sea and its nature has surprised us beyond measure, and so we discovered the other side of the Adriatic. One can say that its historical ruins are substantial and particularly well preserved. Emerges as a perfect mix of art and natural beauty ... a cocktail of those who make a trip ... a nice trip!