Dubrovnik City Walls

The defences took their present shape between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries, thickening each time the Republic judged a new threat credible. They run…The defences took their present shape between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries, thickening each time the Republic judged a new threat credible. They run a shade under two kilometres, reach twenty-five metres at their tallest and six metres through on the landward side, where an assault was actually plausible.

The walk is the thing almost every visitor does and the one most often done badly. There are three ways up, the direction is fixed, and once committed there is no leaving until the end. Allow ninety minutes to two hours, carry water, and start early or late: the stone throws heat back at you and there is no shade anywhere on it. The same ticket also admits you to Lovrjenac, which many people never use.