Even though the territory of modern Dubrovnik has never been a principality, the Croatian city was headed by a prince, a rector, who was elected annually by the city council. As it should be, the prince lived in the palace, was engaged in matters of national importance, enjoyed the power and respect of the citizens. But unlike the rulers of the state, the rector did not have the right to leave the walls of the palace without special permission. The rector's private life did not concern anyone, only a serious illness was a good reason to return to the family. So it would be a stretch to call rector a ruler, rather a prisoner of his city. However, the palace was luxurious and did not look like a prison.

The Rector's Palace, located in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, was built at the beginning of the 15th century. However, as soon as 1435, the powder war reserves exploded in the basements of this monumental structure. The restoration of the magnificent architectural monument took about 30 years, but in no way helped the palace to stand for more than a century: a strong earthquake struck the city, almost destroying the buildings. Thus, the restoration of the famous palace began anew. So one of the most visited tourist attractions in Dubrovnik was made by talented architects of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

After the arrival of the French Emperor Napoleon on the Adriatic coast at the beginning of the 19th century, the palace ceased to fulfill its original function. Inspired by old Italian palazzi, this magnificent monument of medieval architecture combines several styles at once: strict Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque with its rich stucco, which is especially evident in the stairs.

From the Rector's Palace, the road from the Old Town leads travelers to the Old Port, a favorite place for walking, business, and romantic meetings. On the way, do not forget to visit the main shrine of the city, the Assumption Cathedral.