Dubrovnik Museums Private Tour

RECTOR PALACE: In the 15th century the Palace was destroyed twice in gunpowder explosions. Restored by Onofrio della Cava in the late Gothic style after the first explosion in 1435, the Palace got its present-day size with the central atrium and front portico.

The capitals were carved in Renaissance style by Pietro di Martino of Milan, whose capital with Aesculapius has been preserved on the right half-column of the portico. The second gunpowder explosion in 1463 destroyed the western facade of the Palace, and the two famous architects Juraj Dalmatinac and Michelozzo of Florence were engaged in the reconstruction for a short period.

Although the design of Michelozzo was unfortunately rejected, his influence in the restoration of the facade and portico, mainly in Renaissance style, can not be denied. After the earthquake of 1667 the atrium was partially reconstructed with an impressive Baroque staircase. During his one-month mandate the Rector of Dubrovnik lived in the Palace, which also housed the Minor and Major Council hall, the Rectors residence, the courtroom, administration office, prisons, an arsenal and gunpowder store-house. From the Rectors Palace one could enter the Great Council Palace.

MARITIME MUSEUM: The exhibits on the First Floor give an overview of the development of Dubrovnik maritime trade and shipbuilding from its very start to the fall of the Dubrovnik Republic. The exhibits on the Second Floor show the resurgence of maritime trade in Dubrovnik and on the Pelješac Peninsula during the 19th century, as well as the strength of Dubrovnik steamships up until World War II and afterwards. THE RUPE MUSEUM: where it is possible to see just how much attention the residents of Dubrovnik gave to the storage of grain.The Dubrovnik Republic kept all the state reserves of wheat, barley and millet in deep silos called Rupe, carved out of stone and coated with a water-proof material that kept the grain at a temperature of 17?C.

ETHOGRAPHIC MUSEUM: The Ethnographic Museum is located in an old granary dating to the 16th century,... where it is possible to see just how much attention the residents of Dubrovnik gave to the storage of grain.The Dubrovnik Republic kept all the state reserves of wheat, barley and millet in deep silos called Rupe, carved out of stone and coated with a water-proof material that kept the grain at a temperature of 17?C.

The traditional rural economy and architecture of the Dubrovnik region is found on the First Floor. Folk costumes and textile handiwork can be seen on the 2nd Floor.

DUBROVNIK NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM: The beginnings of natural science activity in Dubrovnik go back to 1872,...when the Dubrovnik Museo Patrio was founded.

In addition to the Chamber of Trade and Crafts Collection, the museum was founded on the private natural science collection of the apothecary and ship-owner Antun Drobac. Exhibits at the Dubrovnik Natural Science Museum include part of the Museum collection from the very beginnings of the Museum in the late 19th century, thus reviving the Natural Science Office of the time.