Rector's Palace

The Rector of the Republic of Ragusa governed Dubrovnik from the late 15th century until 1808. Situated between the Dubrovnik town hall and the church of St. Blaise (patron Saint of the old city of Dubrovnik) is the Rector's Palace. The governing position of Rector was designed to be held only for one month at a time, and the person in this office was forbidden to leave the building without express permission of the Senate. During the early Middle Ages, a defensive building (documents of 1272 referred to this building as castrum) occupied this same location. Once it became the Rector's Palace, the structure was either destroyed or heavily damaged over the ensuing years by fires, gunpowder explosions, or earthquakes. Each time it was rebuilt and/or renovated, the palace took on a different look (following the 1435 fire, archetect Onofrio della Cava, who designed the water system for the city and the fountain named after him, was commissioned to rebuild the Palace). Thus, the present-day shape of the Rector's Palace owes its look to the many additions and renovations over its history. Today, the Palace houses the history department and the Cultural Historical Museum of Dubrovnik.

The Rector's Palace opposite the church of St. Blaise. Parts of the museum's collection are under a prohibition of photography.

Part of the ground floor was at one time a prison. This "dragon cell", named after the figure of a dragon carved on the right hand side of the doorway, was part of the block of cells which housed more hardened criminals.

Interior of the cell. The flat rectangular stone structure next to the wall was the prisoner's bed.

This beautifully sculpted stairway led to the upper floors.

Unique anchor points for the bannister.

The upper floors of the palace house the many artifacts, paintings, and sculptures of Dubrovnik's history. Unfortunately, photography of these artifacts is forbidden.

On the ground floor, however, is this series of rooms, dedicated to the turmoil of the war of independence that happened during the 1990's.

The Hilton Imperial hotel just outside the old town suffered massive damage from shelling.

The roof of the bell tower in the middle of the old town also suffered damage.

This parking lot just outside the defensive walls of the old town shows just how much destruction occurred.

The population of Dubrovnik did its best to try to protect its buildings.

Dubrovnik did survive, however, and today there are only a few scars around to serve as a reminder of that turbulent time.