The walls of Dubrovnik are the greatest symbol of its centuries-old freedom. They represent the most beautiful and most preserved fortification system in Europe. They are 1940m long and up to 25m high. The width of the wall is from 1-3m on the sea side and up to 6m on the land side. Their present-day look is from the 14th century, while the fortresses, towers and bulwarks were built from the14th till the 17th century. The four fortresses erected on the four corners of the town define the city walls. They are: the fortress of Minčeta in the north, the fortress of Revelin in the east, the fortress of Saint-John in the south-east and the fortress of Bokar in the south-west. Special importance was given to the fortress of Lovrjenac, which is separated from the rest of the city walls and it was built on a 37m high cliff.
There are three entrances to the city walls:
1. At the beginning of Placa (Stradun), between the inner west gates of Pile and the church of Saint Saviour.
2. Next to the fortress of Saint John.
3. Next to the little church of Saint Luke, on the opposite side of the Dominican monastery.
The Minčeta fortress
The fortress of Minčeta got its name after the Menčetić family, on which land the original fortress was built in the 14th century. The reconstruction works on the fortress, led by the Florentine architect Michelozzo di Michelozzi, began in 1461. After he left Dubrovnik, the works on the fortress were finished by the famous Croatian architect and sculptor Juraj Dalmatinac. Because of its beauty and the role it played in the town defence the fortress of Minčeta holds a special place on many models and paintings of the old town. From this highest point of the city walls stretches a beautiful view of the old town and its famous red roofs.
The Revelin fortress
The fortress of Revelin got its name after the Italian word rivelino, which stands for a fortification built in the shape of a half-moon. The word is used to describe a type of a fortification built at the weakest points of the town defence. Revelin was conceived as the fortress with the task to defend the town`s eastern gates and the harbour. It got its final look in the 16th century thanks to a design of Antonio Ferramolino. As it was left undamaged in the great earthquake of 1667, it was used for the sessions of the Council (the Rector`s palace was heavily damaged), as well as the treasury (the cathedral was destroyed in the earthquake). Today, various cultural performances and manifestations are held in the fortress of Revelin, and its stone terrace, the biggest in Dubrovnik, makes an ideal stage for the Dubrovnik summer festival theatrical performances.
The Saint John fortress
The Saint John fortress was built to defend the city harbour. Its present-day look dates from the 15th century and for the most part it was a work of the Dubrovnik engineer Paskoje Miličević. Today it houses the Maritime museum and the Aquarium. The Maritme museum is situated on the first and second floors. On the first floor the Dubrovnik maritime trade from the antiquity till the abolition of the Republic of Dubrovnik is presented. Different objects from sunken ships like nautical charts, models of sailing ships, nautical instruments, portraits of captains, votive paintings and maritime documents are exhibited there. On the second floor, the Dubrovnik maritime trade of the 19th and 20th century is presented.
The Bokar fortress
The Bokar fortress, which is remarkable for its elegance and harmony, is an interesting example of the Renaissance fortification architecture. It is a work of Michelozzo di Michelozzi, who designed it as a casemate type of a fortress. One part of the fortress stands on the firm ground, while the other part stands above the sea water. Today, the fortress makes a perfect setting for the Summer Festival theatrical performances.
The Lovrjenac fortress
The Lovrjenac fortress is situated on a 37m high cliff. It was first mentioned in documents dating from the 14th century. It was named after the little church of Saint Lorenz situated inside it. Because of its important role in the defence of the town it was called the Gibraltar of Dubrovnik. Once, there was a moat in front of the fortress and a draw-bridge to enter inside it. Above the entrance there is a famous inscription in Latin, the motto of the Republic: NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO- or Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world. After the fall of the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1808, Lovrjenac was used for different purposes. It served as a prison, military barracks, and even as a meeting place for the World PEN congress in 1933. Today the fortress makes an ideal stage for different theatrical performances. The most famous one is of Shakespeare`s Hamlet. That`s why the fortress of Lovrjenac has been lately called the Elsinor of Dubrovnik.