VISIT TO EUROPE - CROATIA - DUBROVNIK - THE CITY AND THE NEW PORT

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY
C/O COL GKS REDDY

Secunderabad - 500 015.

Visit to Dubrovnik City and New Harbour


Dubrovnik City

          Dubrovnik (pronounced [dǔbroːʋniːk] ( listen);[2] Italian: Ragusa) is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea, in the region of Dalmatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its total population is 42,615 (census 2011). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. 

          The prosperity of the city of Dubrovnik was historically based on maritime trade. As the capital of the Republic of Ragusa, a maritime republic, the city achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries. Dubrovnik became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. 

        The beginning of tourism in Dubrovnik is associated with the construction of the Hotel Imperial in Dubrovnik in 1897. According to CNNGo, Dubrovnik is among the 10 best preserved medieval walled cities in the world. Although Dubrovnik was demilitarised in the 1970s to protect it from war, in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. 

A long shot of Hotel Hilton Imperial, From the City Walls, 

located very close to the Walled City

A closer View of Hotel Hilton Imperial

A frontal view of Hotel Hilton Imperial from across the Road

A Modern building outside the walled city, modeled on the 

old Architecture and Construction Material 

Dubrovnik New Port

          Trade development and the arrival of railway in Dubrovnik required the construction of a new port in Dubrovnik. The old one – where both its position and facilities were concerned - could in no way whatsoever meet the requirements for the construction of a cargo port. Initially a cargo-passenger port, it had one passenger jetty, while the remaining part was constructed as a cargo ship quay with cranes for unloading and loading the ship cargo and the terminal for unloading and loading the railway carriages used for transportation of various goods within the former Yugoslavia.

       The port was intended for the acceptance and further transport of timber, but its later development included the construction of a huge refrigeration plant for the acceptance and storage of highly perishable foodstuffs. A large passenger terminal was also constructed with a restaurant and other facilities. During the Croatian War of Independence and a several-day shelling, the refrigeration plant was completely destroyed, while the passenger terminal was heavily damaged. At that time the port was Dubrovnik's only connection with the world, because the city was completely blockaded.

          In December 2009 a great investment in renovating and expanding the port - which had begun in 2009 - was completed, and the new quay enabled the Port of Gruž to receive three mega-cruisers at the same time. This investment is the first phase of the renovation and modernisation of the Port of Gruž.

          Worth mentioning is that cruise ships often anchor in front of the Isle of Lokrum, also a favourite location for luxurious yachts and sailboats offering a memorable view of the Old City.

A long shot of Dubrovnik New Port (Gruz) from the Balcony of the Hotel Room. 

Two large Ocean Liners berthed at the Port can be seen on the Right and the 

Huge Suspension Bridge at the Entrance of the Port is in the Centre

Another view of Dubrovnik New Port

A Replica of an old Ship, meant for the Tourists, berthed at the Port

A full view of the Replica from the Broad side

Another close view of the Replica

A view of the Fishing Harbour at Port Gruz

A Catamaran Docked at the Port, used for more stability in the 

Turbulent waters around numerous Islands of Croatia

The Church of Pope Ivan II at the Gruz Port

Another view of the Church of Pope Ivan II at Port Gruz

A closeup of the plaque on the Church at Port Gruz

MSC Fantasia, the Mega Panamian Passenger Ocean Liner berthed at 

Port Gruz, as seen from outside the Port Premises

A closer view of the Liner

A view of the Centre portion of MSC Fantasia from outside the Port

A view of the Bus Station co-located with the port for ease of 

Transportation of Tourists to the Walled City

A full view of MSC Fantasia from inside the Port Premises

Another Full view of the Liner

A full view of another Mega Passenger Liner - Costa Magica, 

Registered at Genova. The Passenger Terminal at Port Gruz can 

accommodate the Mega Liners at any one time 

A view of the New Suspension Bridge at the Entry of the Port, at far distance

Some of the Views of Walled City From Outside

A view of the Adriatic Sea through the Gap between Fort Bokar on the left 

and Fort Lovrijenac on the Right (Not in picture)

A view of Fort Minceta from the Road Outside

A view of the western Fort Wall from Outside

A view of Fort Bokar from outside the walled City

A view of the Outer Entry of Ploce Gate and Fort Ravelin from outside

A beautiful Marble Fountain outside the Walled City, in the Gap 

between Fort Bokar and Fort Lovrijenac

A view of Outer Entry of Pile Gate from the Draw Bridge outside

Another view of Western Fort Wall and the Moat from Outside

A long shot of Fort Minceta from the Road outside

A view of Fort Ravelin (White Colour) and Northern Fort Wall from the Road outside

Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia.