The World Above Dubrovnik

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A short 5 mins ride on the Dubrovnik Cable Car took us up to Mount Srđ but the 10mins walk we took from the Stradun towards Buža Gate crossing a parking lot, was a bit more challenging with lots of steep stairs leading to the cable car station on Ulica kraija Petra Krešimira IV. This is apparently the quickest route but it left quite a few of us huffing & puffing! There are two other ways to get to the cable car via Pile or Ploče Gates taking about 8-12mins walking around & behind the city walls.
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This cable car system was first constructed in1969 & it scales a steep incline of 412m high up over the old walled town of Dubrovnik. There was a  disruption in service during the War of Independence (1991-1995) & these gleaming orange cable cars operating since 2010 have transported millions of visitors who wanted to catch a glimpse of the beautiful panoramic view of Dubrovnik & the surrounding areas.
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We savoured both the magnificent view & Coffee paired with a delicious Apple Crumble Pie at Restaurant Panorama which overlooks Lokrum Island, the Adriatic Sea & the Old Town of Dubrovnik.
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Mount Srđ was in the thick of action during the 1991-1995 Croatian War of Independence & home to one of the fiercest battle, namely the Siege of Dubrovnik where the southern slope once rich with pine trees were completely gutted by fire.
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It takes between 1hr 30mins to 2 hrs to hike up Mount Srđ on a well defined trail to Fort Imperial. Along the way there are outdoor sculptures depicting the Stations of the Cross & a final panel of Christ being laid in a tomb.
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This 20m high  White Procession Cross  & altar was rebuilt after it was destroyed during the 1991-1995 Croatian War of Independence. A gift from the Archdiocese of Brac (an island located between Spilt & Hvar), it was made from pure white limestone that was quarried there. Apparently the limestone used in the White House in Washington D.C. was also acquired from Brac.
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Mount Srđ was once forested with oak trees which the locals called dubrava (Slavonic word dub means “oak tree”) & that was how the city got its name, Dubrovnik.
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Lokrum Island is the closest to Dubrovnik & it is a popular getaway for locals & tourists. You can catch a ferry from the Old Harbour of Dubrovnik (bottom right of the photo) which takes about 15mins & cost about €5 to get to Lokrum.
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The amazing view of Dubrovnik’s Old City from Mount Srđ. Look at the impressive stone walls & citadel that protect the city & the attractive orange terracotta rooftops.
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Looking north-west at the modern part of Dubrovnik city from Mount Srđ’s cable car station.
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A picturesque view of the Elaphiti Islands which was named after the large number of deers that used to inhabit them. The ancient Greek word for deer is elaphos & the Roman author Pliny the Elder, was the first to identify  the islands as Elaphiti Islands.
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Interestingly terraced silhouettes of the Elaphiti Islands which comprises of about 13 isles dotting Croatia’s Dalmatian Coastline. The other 3 isles closest to Dubrovnik besides Lokrum are Kolocep, Lopud & Sipan.
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The setting sun swathes the Adriatic Sea in gold & bathes Dubrovnik in a romantic sepia hue as evening approaches.
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After spending such a lovely afternoon on Mount Srđ, it is now time to get back into the Old Town for a sumptuous dinner with a toast or two to round off this beautiful day!

Dubrovnik has the honour of being called “The Pearl of the Adriatic” & this gem truly lives up to its name. It was augmented further & cast into the limelight with the TV series Game of Thrones being filmed here as well.  When you walk down the Stradun, it is like going back in time to centuries past or is it just the diehard romantic in me?

Published by Sandra Quah

Into Travelling, Photography & Music

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