Walking down the famous Stradun

The Placa or Stradun, running from east to west, is the longest and most important street in the Old Town. It connects the Pile Gates (western entrance) and the Ploce Gates (eastern entrance) and is 292 metres in length.

From both sides of the Stradun, narrow side-streets emerge, in which lie hidden a multitude of shops, cosy restaurants, café bars and souvenir shops. Stradun is the main artery of the Old Town and is always bustling with tourists and local inhabitants.

Stradun, the main street of Old Town

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As soon as you enter Stradun, to your left, you will see very steep stairs going up the wall. Very often, there is a long line of people standing all the way up those stairs, even down on the street. This is where you enter the famous City walls.

On the right, there is the famous great Onofrio's Fountain. This fountain is the romantic little spot by which you can stop, sit down or simply freshen up with its clear cool water before you head further down the Stradun.

Back to the left, there is the beautiful Renaissance church of the Holy Savour and right next to it, the Franciscan Monastery.

The gate to the Old Town

At the very end of Stradun, the most notable bulding is the famous Sponza Palace. During the time of the Republic, this was the location of the custom office, the state mint and state treasury. 

Today, Sponza harbors the most important cultural institution - the Dubrovnik State Archives, whose valuts keep many authentic documents on the thousand year history of the Dubrovnik Republic. The Sponza is also home to the Memorial Room of the Defenders of Dubrovnik in the Homeland War in 1991.

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Stradun is lined with small shops

Right in front of the Sponza Palace is the famous Church of Saint Blaise, the patron Saint of Dubrovnik. 

In front of Saint Blaise's Church is the biggest symbol of Dubrovnik's freedom and independence: Orlando's Column. Orlando's Column stands in the centre of the square.

It is a symbol of statehood, and a state flag flies from its mast, replaced by the patron saint's flag during the Feast of St. Blaise. The Libertas flag is raised during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

The Sponza Palace is situated at the end of Stradun

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