Dubrovnik - Cathedral

Dubrovnik was founded probably within the 6th century. It grew in medieval times and was known as "Republic of Ragusa" between 1358 to 1808. It was added to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy - and after the Congress of Vienna was part of the Habsburg Empire.

The old town of Dubrovnik, since 1979 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, is a wonderful city - and a major tourist destination. The center of Dubrovnik is small, so it can get pretty crowded, when two cruise ships have arrived - even in October.

The cathedral was built on the site of several former cathedrals. The building of the 12th century Romanesque cathedral was partially funded Richard the Lion Heart. This was a votive after having survived a shipwreck near Lokrum in 1192 on his return from the Third Crusade. Lokrum is a small island just half a mile away from Dubrovnik.

After that cathedral had been largely destroyed in the earthquake of 1667, Italian architects completed the Baroque cathedral within only thirty years.