Cavtat, Croatia is located just 17 kilometers south of Dubrovnik in the Konavle valley, southernmost Croatian region. Pine-covered trails, secluded swimming spots, charming seaside restaurants and art collection is why you should include this little town on your holiday in Croatia itinerary.
Cavtat stopped being a handy spot to find an accommodation when Dubrovnik is all booked up long time ago. Today it is a peaceful resort town for anyone who doesn’t want to miss a chance to see magnificent Dubrovnik and yet wants a laid-back holiday on Adriatic.
For those who opt for accommodation in Dubrovnik, Cavtat is an easy day trip from Dubrovnik and will be a perfect refreshment from the bustling walled city.
HOW TO GET TO CAVTAT, CROATIA
Cavtat is located around 5 kilometers from Dubrovnik Airport.
From Dubrovnik to Cavtat you can take a 45 minute boat ride from the Dubrovnik’s Old Port.
The cheapest option to get from Dubrovnik to Cavtat is by public bus number 10 which goes every half an hour from Dubrovnik Main Bus Station and stops at Cable Car station above Dubrovnik Old Town as well.
In case Cavtat is not your main point of interest you can make it an easy detour if you are taking a trip from Dubrovnik to Montenegro, going to the airport or having a tour to Konavle Valley from Dubrovnik.
HISTORY OF CAVTAT
Even though today it is in the shadow of its popular neighbour, Cavtat was founded long before there was Dubrovnik. Established by the Greeks in the 4th century BC as Epidaurus in the 3rd century BC it was taken by Romans who called it Epidaurum. It was at that time the city flourished.
Today it is possible to see remains of this ancient civilizations spread all around the city and its surrounding – from the ruins of old walls, streets, parts of capitals and amphorae to what is believed to be remains of the old amphitheatre.
In the 7th century Epidaurum was sacked by Avars and Slavs and it was the people who fled the city that founded Dubrovnik.
The city gained today’s appearance in the 15th century under the rule of Dubrovnik Republic.
THINGS TO DO IN CAVTAT
Strolling along seaside promenade you will see two Renaissance churches – parish church of St. Nicholas with Baroque interior and accompanying art gallery and Franciscan church of Our Lady of Snow.
What both churches have in common are the paintings of one of the greatest Croatian painter born in Cavtat – Vlaho Bukovac (1855-1922). He was the founder of modern Croatian painting trained at the Ecole the Beaux Arts in Paris in the class of one of the leading figures of French academic art, Alexandre Cabanel. Soon he left the academic spirit and adopted pleinairsm and Impressionism. Portraits of important persons from all over Europe as well as ordinary people is what brought him fame but he also painted large historical and sacral compositions and landscapes with vivid spectrum of colours. Bukovac’s childhood house in Cavtat is turned into an Art Gallery encompassing Bukovac’s works from all the phases of his oeuvre.
Another great artist who left an indelible mark in Cavtat is Ivan Meštrović, a renowned Croatian sculptor, architect and writer of the 20th century. He achieved international fame as a sculptor with his most internationally famous work being a pair of giant Native American warriors on horseback in Chicago’s Grand Park. In Cavtat Meštrović designed Račić Family Mausoleum situated in the cemetery on the highest point of Cavtat.
The entire mausoleum is built from white stone from the island of Brač. Iconography of this monumental octagonal domed mausoleum represents three basic stages of human destiny: birth, life and death.
Once you get tired of sightseeing you can have lunch in one of many Cavtat restaurants by the sea or enjoy the peacefulness of Cavtat beach.
If you are coming out of the main season, don’t worry, Cavtat weather usually allows you swimming even at the end of May or early October.
ACCOMMODATION IN CAVTAT, CROATIA
For such a small city Cavtat has a vast variety of accommodation choices – from big resorts, boutique hotels to private apartments.
The most famous and only five star hotel in Cavtat is Hotel Croatia which is a masterpiece of Croatian modern hotel architecture.
Other bigger hotels are Hotel Epidaurus Cavtat, Hotel Albatros Cavtat and Hotel Cavtat – all a pleasant walk from Cavtat Old Town.
Private accommodation goes from small studio apartments to beautiful villas with the pool and views of the sea.
PHOTO: Museum and Galleries of Konavle, Pixabay, Hotel Croatia Cavtat, Instagram