Dubrovnik, << DOO brawv nihk >> (pop. 26,922), is a city in the Dalmatia region of southern Croatia . It lies on the coast of the Adriatic Sea and is an important port city. Dubrovnik’s beautiful beaches and cultural attractions make it a popular tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities, such as boating, fishing, hiking, and scuba diving; tour the city’s historic buildings, monuments, and museums; and attend concerts, performances, and festivals.
Refugees from the Roman city of Epidaurum (now Cavtat, Croatia) established Dubrovnik—originally called Ragusa—in the early A.D. 600’s. They had been driven from Epidaurum by invading Avars and Slavs. Ragusa was initially a self-governing republic, although it had a loose allegiance to the Byzantine Empire. From 1205 to 1358, it was under Venetian control. It then reestablished its independence, but with some ties of allegiance to Hungary until the 1500’s, and then to the Ottoman Empire. During the 1400’s and 1500’s, Dubrovnik had a strong merchant navy and was a rival to Venice for commerce on the Adriatic Sea.
A major earthquake destroyed most of Dubrovnik in 1667, and the city went into decline. Dubrovnik was later rebuilt in the Baroque architecture style. French forces under Emperor Napoleon I took control the city in 1806. In 1815, Austria (later Austria-Hungary) annexed Dubrovnik. When Austria-Hungary was broken up in 1918, Dubrovnik became a part of the republic of Croatia within the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (renamed Yugoslavia in 1929).
In June 1991, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, and Dubrovnik remained a city of Croatia. In October 1991, the Serbian army attacked Dubrovnik. The Serbian army laid siege to the city until the summer of 1992, when the Croatian army finally liberated Dubrovnik. The city suffered considerable destruction. Since then, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and other international organizations have helped to repair the damaged areas of the city.
