Most guests swarm to Dubrovnik’s exquisitely preserved outdated city, set inside its UNESCO-listed metropolis partitions. However in some unspecified time in the future, you’ll need to escape the vacationer crowds and the Mediterranean solar, and retreat to one of many metropolis’s quiet inexperienced areas, historic gardens or leafy parks.
This can be a small metropolis with a great deal of inexperienced cowl, due to its many towering Aleppo pines, orange timber and aromatic hedges of pittosporum. However stumbling upon a park in Dubrovnik is not precisely little one’s play – its parks appear to be hidden away, typically in the obvious but well-concealed spots. Here is the place to seek out them.
Take a quiet stroll by means of Gradac Park
Only a few minutes’ stroll from the outdated city lies this inexperienced hideaway, tucked on a cliff’s edge overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Gradac Park is ideal for a spot of quiet contemplation, a solitary stroll or a romantic stroll. The melody of birdsong, pigeons cooing, waves lapping on the shore, tolling bells of the monastery church under and crunching gravel underfoot present a soothing pure soundtrack.
The shady strolling paths are lined with scented pittosporum, majestic cypresses and Aleppo pines, lots of which have been planted on the park’s inception in 1898. Properly-trodden paths criss-cross this inexperienced oasis, typically resulting in crumbling stone partitions of deserted ruins. It is wild and uncared for in components, however a renovation plan is within the works for this city haven.
Catch a live performance in Orsula Park
Little greater than 2km (1.4 miles) down the street heading east from the town heart is a well-liked cliffside viewpoint with a sweeping vista over Dubrovnik’s outdated city and Lokrum island. However few who cease right here to take a selfie discover the modest signal to Orsula Park, or its entrance gate hidden behind the drinks kiosk.
From there, a path winds down the cliff to a semicircular amphitheater with a stone seating space and a panoramic view that is really spectacular – the proper backdrop for a picnic among the many olive timber, conifers, fig timber, and broom shrubs, in addition to a magical venue for summer season concert events.
An age-old strolling route stretches from the semi-restored ruins of the 14th-century St Orsula’s chapel in direction of the outdated city, a 25-minute stroll away. Prior to now, vacationers would say a prayer on the chapel earlier than getting into or leaving the town.
Carry binoculars for birdwatching at Velika & Mala Petka Forest Park
Named after its two hills, Velika (huge) & Mala (small) Petka, this park spans an space of 43 hectares (106 acres) on the southern finish of the Lapad peninsula, northwest of the outdated city. The park is sort of solely coated by the hovering Aleppo pines it was created to guard, in addition to evergreen oaks, a number of wild olive timber and low-lying Mediterranean shrubs.
Look intently and you might spot morning glory and primrose rising among the many thickets. The park’s dense vegetation is a habitat for songbirds, thrushes, chaffinch and goldfinch, making this city sanctuary a draw for birdwatchers.
You’ll see locals strolling their canine alongside the shady paved and gravel paths, a morning jogger or two and teams of walkers following the marked mountain climbing trails. A paved path winds as much as Velika Petka, the place you’ll be rewarded with a dramatic visible tableau of Lapad Bay and Srđ hill.
Let the little ones play at Pile Park
Within the shadow of Dubrovnik’s large metropolis partitions in a former moat is a youngsters’s playground – the proper spot for youths to let off some steam on the swings and slide after a day of sightseeing, whereas dad and mom calm down on the park benches.
Attain Pile Park by way of a stone staircase, simply left of the footbridge resulting in Pile Gate. On the opposite aspect of the footbridge is a leafy part shaded with orange timber and the ever-present shrubs of pittosporum. Adorning the park at one finish is an elegantly sculpted stone fountain, whereas a gateway within the wall results in Pile Gate and the Stradun, the outdated city’s principal pedestrian avenue.
Take a break from the bustle in Bogišićev park
When you park at Ilijina Glavica, the town’s principal parking zone, you’ll stroll by means of this wooded park in your means all the way down to the outdated city. Search for a fenced youngsters’s playground only a few steps away; from there, Bogišićev park continues down a slope.
A plaque reveals that the park was established in 1913. It presents a peaceful and peaceable respite from the vacationer bustle, with the town’s signature Aleppos offering shelter from the solar. Lining the stone strolling paths are hedges of oleander, laurel and aromatic pittosporum. As you make your means downhill you’ll catch glimpses of terracotta rooftops and St Lawrence Fortress – for Recreation of Thrones followers, the Pink Preserve in King’s Touchdown.
See tons of of species of unique vegetation at Lokrum’s botanical backyard
The tiny island of Lokrum floats tantalizingly near Dubrovnik and is well reachable by way of a daily ferry service. Designated a Nature Reserve and a Particular Forest Vegetation Reserve since 1975, the entire car-free island is a flora-rich park in itself, with 800 species of unique vegetation and dense forests of Aleppo and black pines, cypresses and Mediterranean oaks.
Lovers of vegetation and flowers will take pleasure in ambling by means of the botanical backyard on the japanese finish of the island. Archduke Maximilian I of Habsburg planted its first timber within the nineteenth century, after he purchased the island, and imported many vegetation from the Canary Islands. Most of its timber are lofty Australian eucalyptuses, however you’ll additionally discover palms, yuccas, acacia and a set of cacti, amongst others.
Stage a Recreation of Thrones photoshoot at Trsteno Arboretum
Positioned 19km (12 miles) up the coast from Dubrovnik, this magical inexperienced area shall be acquainted to Recreation of Thrones followers because the gardens of King’s Touchdown, the place the Tyrells shared secrets and techniques and plotted their subsequent strikes.
The Fifteenth-century Trsteno Arboretum is the oldest of its variety in Croatia. It has an ethereal really feel about it, possibly as a result of it’s not overly tended and simply wild sufficient to make it really feel other-worldly.
Among the many 300 species of timber and vegetation rising on this dense, 25-hectare (63-acre) backyard are lindens, bay laurels, Aleppo pines, cypresses, hornbeams, Japanese palms and bamboo. Every tree is recognized with a small plaque detailing its identify, origin, diameter, peak and age. You’ll discover that many are centenarians, and the oldest is greater than 150 years outdated.
A preferred landmark is the baroque fountain, presided over by a lofty statue of Neptune, the Roman god of waters and seas. Look intently among the many waterlilies and also you’ll spot goldfish, frogs and turtles.
