To learn the history and culture of an ancient city, you do not have to wander its streets all day and spend nights reading documents of the huge city archive. It is enough to get to know the locals, listen to fascinating legends and traditions, and then go to the Old City, where its history was born, where it all began. As a rule, the Old City is surrounded by fortress walls, and the heart of the city is the ancient square with the oldest architectural monuments, the main tourist attractions.
The Square of the Loggia in Croatian Dubrovnik is the heart of the city and its historical and cultural center, as well as the busiest place here, which is loved by both citizens and tourists.
Located in the north of the Old City, the picturesque Loggia Square is surrounded by outstanding architectural monuments, the most impressive of which is a medieval bell tower dating from the 15th century. The slender bell tower with a height of more than 30 meters is crowned by an old clock that still shows the exact time. Two bronze figures of the jacquemarts Baro and Maro, nicknamed Zelenci (the Greenies) because of the patina (film or coating), hourly ring the bell cast by Ivan Rabljanin in 1506.
Today, the bell tower is topped by copies of the jacquemarts. The original 15th-century figures are stored in the museum of the Rector's Palace.
Fans of temple architecture will love to visit the Catholic Church of St. Blaise, whose solemn Baroque facade and splendid central staircase have adorned the charming square since the early 18th century. The old City Hall, built in the 19th century, still houses local authorities. Theaters give performances. The cozy traditional restaurants serve smoked pork ham "prsut" and stewed vegetables "manistra". Coffee shops are never empty: tourists have long liked the aromatic Croatian coffee. Besides, the views here make you want to linger and stop the flight of time for at least a couple of minutes.