Lying right in the very south of Croatia, Dubrovnik stands looking proudly out to towards the sea, which has been the source of the city's wealth for centuries. It is a strange feeling walking around Dubrovnik's ramparts and seeing the vastness of the Mediterranean spread out before you; the sense that emanates from these walls, which have long served to protect the city from enemy assaults, is one of invulnerability.
Barely had I returned back to the little streets of the old town district before, upon seeing the numerous old buildings that still stand here – vestiges of a glorious past, and here too, like the ramparts, very well-maintained – I was once again struck by a sense of the history of this place.
Dubrovnik is simply full of palaces, churches and cobbled streets, and is an absolute treat for lovers of ancient bricks and mortar.
There is a small price to pay for all this however, namely the large number of tourists who flock here, a phenomenon in which the lucrative cruise ship market plays a significant role. It is definitely a good idea to avoid the Stradun, the city's main thoroughfare, despite the various attractions it has to offer. Stroll around the smaller, less-visited streets instead and seek out some peace and calm in the shadow of one of the ancient palaces.