Attraction
City Walls of Dubrovnik
Almost two kilometres of medieval ramparts wrapped around Dubrovnik's Old Town, walkable in a full circuit with views over terracotta roofs and the open Adriatic.
Luža Square
The square at the eastern end of Stradun, framed by Sponza Palace, the Church of St Blaise, the Bell Tower and the 15th-century Orlando's Column.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic square with palace, church and column
- Area
- Old Town, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Good to know
- Free
- Open 24 hours
- Pedestrianised
Why we recommend it
Luža Square is where Stradun ends and the civic heart of old Dubrovnik begins. Within a few paces of each other stand the Bell Tower, the Church of St Blaise, Sponza Palace, the Main Guard and Orlando's Column, with the Rector's Palace just around the corner. Few squares pack so much of a city's history into such a small space, and it is free to wander at any hour.
Orlando's Column, in the middle of the square, was carved in 1417 and 1418 by Bonino da Milano with a local stonemason. The knight Roland, or Orlando, was a symbol of a free trading city, and the length of his forearm served as the Republic's official unit of measurement, the Dubrovnik ell of 51.2 centimetres. The Libertas flag is raised on the column at the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival each July.
Sponza Palace, on the north side, was built between 1516 and 1522 to designs by Paskoje Miličević and mixes Gothic windows with a Renaissance portico. It was the customs house, which is where its old name Divona comes from, and over time also served as a mint, armoury, treasury, bank and school. An inscription in the atrium warns traders that the weights here allowed no cheating, because God was weighing with the official. The palace now holds the Dubrovnik State Archives and a memorial room to the defenders of the city who died in the 1991 to 1995 war; the building is also used for exhibitions and performances.
Opposite stands the Baroque Church of St Blaise, built in 1715 by the Venetian architect Marino Gropelli on the site of an older Romanesque church that was badly damaged in the 1667 earthquake and later fire. Inside, on the high altar, is a 15th-century gilded silver statue of the saint holding a model of the city as it looked before the earthquake; it was the only object to survive a fire in 1706. The Feast of St Blaise on 3 February is the city's biggest celebration, with processions through the Old Town.
Visit early or in the evening for the best atmosphere and photographs. The square is flat and easy to cross, though the church and palace have steps at their entrances. Luža is a natural meeting point, and the Ploče Gate and the old harbour are both a minute away.
Luža Square FAQs
What is Orlando's Column?
A stone column with a statue of the knight Roland carved in 1417 and 1418, a symbol of the free city; his forearm set the official Dubrovnik ell of 51.2 centimetres.
What is Sponza Palace used for today?
It houses the Dubrovnik State Archives and a memorial room to the city's defenders, and the building is also used for exhibitions and performances.
When was Sponza Palace built?
Between 1516 and 1522, to a design by Paskoje Miličević.
What is special about the Church of St Blaise?
It holds a 15th-century gilded silver statue of St Blaise holding a model of pre-earthquake Dubrovnik, which survived a fire in 1706.
When is the Feast of St Blaise?
On 3 February each year, with processions through the Old Town.
Is there an entry fee for the square?
No. Luža Square is a public space open at all times.
What else is nearby?
The Rector's Palace, the cathedral, the Ploče Gate and the old harbour are all within a couple of minutes' walk.
When is the Libertas flag raised on the column?
At the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, which runs from 10 July to 25 August.