STON
By its economic and strategic significance, Ston was the second most important town, after Dubrovnik, of the Dubrovnik Republic. This was confirmed by the monumental walls, constructed between the 14th and 15th centuries, and extending over 5 kilometers in length and measuring 5-10 meters in height. The walls were fortified by forty towers and bastions. In the 14th century began the construction of Mali and Veliki Ston, one on one side and the other on the other side of the isthmus, which was of great importance for the defense of Pelješac and the entire western section of the Republic. A large natural salt pans is located at the base of the Ston Channel, where sea salt has been produced for centuries – a precious monopoly product of the Republic of Dubrovnik, or Ragusa as it was then known. The Mali Ston Channel, at Bistrina, is the location of a shellfish farm. There is also a lovely islet called the ˝Islet of Life˝. Not far from Ston, there is the beautiful bay of Prapratno with its centuries old olive trees, Mediterranean macchia thickets and clean sandy beaches and the site of one of the loveliest auto camps in this region.
PENINSULA PELJEŠAC
Pelješac is the second biggest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea with a length of 70 km (SE-NW). Its landscape varies from bays, beaches and hills to plains. The climate is pleasant Mediterranean, with long, dry and warm summers and short, mild and wet winters. People from Pelješac are famous sailors, winemakers of well known sorts like DINGAČ and POSTUP, good fishermen, and hospitable hosts to numerous tourists from all over the world. Characteristically clear sea, quite bays, sandy, gravel and rocky beaches, picturesque landscapes, aromatic plants, and above all fresh air attract visitors from all over the world to Pelješac. Comfortable hotels, apartments and camps are offered to many tourists. The peninsula has about 3000 sunny hours per year.
DUBROVNIK
The city of Dubrovnik is situated on the Dalmatian Riviera, at the foot of the 412 meter high mountain of Srđ. Dubrovnik was founded in the 7th century. It is surrounded by 2 km long town walls, which were built from the 11th to the 17th centuries. Dubrovnik people were famous seamen and tradesmen, and their sailing ships used to sail all around the world. Dubrovnik achieved its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, also called the “golden age of Dubrovnik”. But in 1667 there was a catastrophic earthquake from which the town recovered with difficulty. Dubrovnik was the center of the Republic of Dubrovnik, or Ragusa as it was then known, which fell with the arrival of Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th century. Throughout the history Dubrovnik has attracted and fascinated with its beauty many inquisitive persons, travel writers, adventurers, and many others which it still does today. The main street in Dubrovnik, Stradun, is unique in its beauty; it is the centre of the ancient town core and the favorite gathering point of the inhabitants. Dubrovnik, with its 17 monasteries and churches and one of the oldest synagogues in Europe, represents a cultural heritage monument and is protected by UNESCO. Every year in the months of July and August Dubrovnik hosts a summer festival of music, dance, theatre and folklore.