Dubrovnik, Croatia

The old town of Dubrovnik, surrounded by a towering medieval wall, has such a long and tumultuous history that it seems incredible that there are still remaining buildings and streets dating from the 12th century.

From the drawbridge at the Pile Gate entry to the fort sitting on it's own little promontary, and the enormous stone wall surrounding the old town, the city has faced invasion and warfare throughout the centuries.  We walked the medieval city wall, built of stone atop the steep sea cliffs and encircling the old city. It's hard to imagine just how it was constucted centuries ago. Dubrovnik really is a jewel in the Adriatic. 

The fort perched on the promontary, as well as other sites in the old town, featured in much of Game of Thrones. 

Interestingly, when the town wall was being built, people who brought rocks to add to the wall didn't have to pay tax, which helps explain how they sourced the enormous number of rocks used in the wall.