St. John Fortress

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The St. John Fortress is a complex monumental building on the southeastern side of the old city port, controlling and protecting its entrance. The first fort was built in the mid-14th century, but it was modified on several occasions in the course of the 15th and 16th centuries, which can be seen in the triptych made by the painter Nikola Božidarević in the Dominican monastery. The painting shows Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik.

Dominant in the port ambiance, the St. John Fortress prevented access of pirates and other enemy ships. Always cautious at the first sign of danger, the inhabitants of Dubrovnik used to close the entry into the port with heavy chains stretched between the St. John Fortress and the Kase jetty, and they also used to wall up all the port entries to the Great Arsenal.

Today, the fortress houses an aquarium on the ground floor, stocked with fish from various parts of the Adriatic Sea. On the upper floors there is an ethnographic and a maritime museum devoted to the Republic Maritime Period, the Age of Steam, the Second World War, and the section of techniques of sailing and navigation.

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Details

Founded: 14th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Croatia

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Neil G (Tank) (3 years ago)
A few seats that you can use to watch the boats sail in and out of the harbour or you go for swim off the rocks (steps and handrails are there to help you get back out). There is also boat-bar that serves beer and soft drinks.
Daniel Haman (3 years ago)
Built in 1346, main role of this fort was the defense of the town's harbor.
Chris (3 years ago)
Didn’t go inside it but it looks nice from the outside, very forty.
Ivan Vukovic (Dubrovnik tourist guide) (4 years ago)
Fantastic entrance to the old port.
Ivana Sošić Antunović (5 years ago)
Great
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