Cavtat – a suburb of Dubrovnik

Truth be told, there are few towns on the beautiful Adriatic coast that are blessed with such a harmony of natural beauty and medieval charm as we can experience in Cavtat. Although it is geographically and administratively separated from Dubrovnik, in the hearts of the local population Cavtat is an inseparable part of the Dubrovnik area and a kind of suburb of Dubrovnik. Despite the fact that Cavtat has only 2,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest settlement in the area (after Dubrovnik) and is also the administrative center of the southernmost Croatian municipality of Konavlje.

Walking around the city
The beginnings of today's Cavtat date back to centuries before Christ, when the site of today's settlement was occupied by the Roman city of Epidaurum, an important trading colony on the eastern Adriatic coast at the time. While walking through the town, we can still find the remains of Roman temples and villas, surviving witnesses of the glorious ancient past. After the destruction of the colony in the 7th century, the inhabitants fled to the area of today's old part of Dubrovnik, where they founded a settlement that marks the beginning of today's Dubrovnik. In the Middle Ages, Cavtat was an integral part of the Dubrovnik Republic and its second most important port, and for the inhabitants of the Konavle villages it also represented an escape route in case of danger. The remains of the medieval defensive walls are still visible at the entrance to the old town center. In the past, Cavtat was a trading and fishing port, where the Dubrovnik nobility and wealthy captains built beautiful summer residences, called summer houses, and to this day it has grown into a tourist destination with a top-notch offer. Despite its small area, Cavtat has facilities such as a hotel Croatia, which is the largest Croatian hotel, and next to them are important historical monuments such as  Račić Mausoleum, a miniature architectural gem from the beginning of the last century, in which we can read a beautiful verse by sculptor Ivan Meštrović: "When you discover the secret of love, you will solve the riddle of death and you will believe that life is eternal." The message is carved on a bronze bell and echoes into eternity.

 The old town centre is characterised by a special charm, with medieval buildings and picturesque streets that still breathe the past, complemented by the colourful terraces of numerous restaurants and cafés. The most important place for social life is waterfront, surrounded by palm trees on one side, and on the other side, luxurious yachts are moored, competing to see which one is more beautiful and bigger. The Cavtat waterfront is one of the few places in our vicinity where we can observe world stars from close range while dining on the deck of yachts moored along the waterfront. Last year, Beyoncé aroused the most curiosity, as she stayed on a luxury yacht for several days. In the evening, a walk is a special experience, as schools of fish, attracted by the underwater lighting of the yachts, circle right next to the waterfront, and in the background, the harmonious song of a local a capella group, which performs free of charge only for walkers, echoes. A walk during the day also allows you to see sights such as Franciscan monastery with a small but beautiful monastery from the 15th century, a picturesque garden Princely palaces from the 16th century, which offers silence and coolness just a few meters from the center, and the birthplace of the most famous painter of this part of Europe Vlaho Bukovac, which has been converted into a museum with his works. After a walk in the summer heat, the best place to rest and refresh yourself is on the terraces with natural shade right by the sea, such as the one offered by the café Poseidon or on the beach Small Stone.

A city of hidden beaches and fantastic promenades
If you want to sunbathe on a small beach where you don't feel like a museum piece, or watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Mediterranean (no exaggeration), Cavtat is the ideal place. In contrast to the few and overcrowded beaches in Dubrovnik, you can find a place by the sea all to yourself here. The long promenade by the sea is full of benches, where tired walkers and couples in love can rest and enjoy the view of the surrounding islands, the Rat and Sustjepan peninsulas and further towards Dubrovnik.

Unique products and local delicacies
Cavtat is full of quaint souvenir shops, as well as artists selling their work at stalls. The most interesting thing to watch is the elderly women carefully and meticulously embroidering the famous Konavle bond and painters who sell their impressions of Cavtat life.

The gastronomic offer is also rich and diverse. Due to its location between the sea and the agriculturally oriented population of Konavle, it enjoys all the advantages of fresh ingredients, caught in the sea or raised in the fields. Restaurants along the waterfront offer freshly caught fish, mussels from Ston, and vegetables, meat and cheeses from the Cavtat hinterland. After being destroyed in the war in the 1990s, the vineyards in Konavle have been restored and local winemakers are producing prized wines. Local specialties include cheese in oil, Dalmatian prosciutto and dishes prepared under the peka (oven). Traditionally, a meal should start with a glass of homemade travarica (herbal wine). If you decide to stay in private apartments and prepare your own meals, then you should not forget to visit the market early in the morning, when local fishermen sell their catch.

 The adventure tourist part of Dubrovnik
Anyone who wants more than just relaxation and sun during their vacation can choose from an interesting range of adventure programs in Cavtat. With the help of local diving clubs, we can explore underwater caves, shipwrecks, ancient amphorae and similar underwater treasures. The best address for an active vacation in Cavtat is the agency Dubrovnik Walks&Talks, which will help us discover the Dubrovnik surroundings while horseback riding, driving on off-road vehicles (jeep safari and ATV safari) or with maps of hiking trails, and they will also help us learn about local customs and life, as we can join fishermen during night fishing or visit winemakers and farmers in the hinterland.