Lovrijenac Fortress

Often called the Gibraltar of Dubrovnik, Lovrijenac Fortress was built on a 37-meter-high cliff to protect the western entrance to the city. Legend has it that in the 11th century, the people of the Republic of Ragusa learned that the Venetians planned to build a fort on this very spot to control the city. In a remarkable feat of engineering and determination, the citizens constructed the first version of the fortress in just three months, forcing the Venetian ships to turn back when they arrived to find the site already occupied. The fortress underwent several reconstructions over the following centuries, particularly after the devastating earthquake of 1667. Its unique triangular shape was designed specifically to withstand attacks from the sea while remaining vulnerable to the city's own cannons. The seaward walls are an incredible 12 meters thick, but the walls facing the city are only 60 centimeters thick. This was a strategic precaution: if a commander ever tried to seize control of the fort and turn against the Republic, the city's heavy artillery could easily pierce the thin inner walls and reclaim the stronghold. Today, the fortress is no longer a site of military conflict but serves as one of the most prestigious stages in the world. Since the mid-20th century, it has been the primary venue for the Dubrovnik Summer Festival’s performances of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Above the entrance gate, the famous inscription 'Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro' remains, reminding every visitor that 'Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world.'