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.
Rector’s Palace
The Gothic and Renaissance seat of the Ragusan Republic's rector, now the Cultural History Museum with period rooms, a courtroom, prison cells and a celebrated atrium.
At a glance
- Type
- Gothic-Renaissance palace and history museum
- Area
- Old Town, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Official site
- dumus.hr
Good to know
- Free audio guide app
- Combined museum ticket
- Open all year
Why we recommend it
For more than four centuries the Rector's Palace was the political heart of the Republic of Ragusa. The rector lived and worked here alongside the Minor Council and the state administration, and the building also held an armoury, a powder store, a guardhouse and a prison. The Republic ended in 1808, and today the palace houses the Cultural History Museum, part of the Dubrovnik Museums group.
The building you see is the product of repeated disasters. After a fire in 1435, Onofrio della Cava, the Neapolitan engineer behind the city's water supply, rebuilt it in Gothic style. A gunpowder explosion in 1463 led to a new round of work; Michelozzo's Renaissance plans were turned down, and Salvi di Michele reshaped the loggia capitals from 1467. Further earthquake damage in 1520 and 1667 brought Baroque additions, including the staircase in the atrium. The arcaded facade, with its finely carved capitals, is one of the most photographed fronts in the Old Town.
Inside, the museum recreates the palace as it worked: state offices, a courtroom and prison cells on the ground floor, and upstairs a chapel, reception salons and the rector's private apartments. The mezzanine displays Dubrovnik coins, medals, seals and coats of arms, weapons, goldsmiths' work and the inventory of the Domus Christi state pharmacy. In the atrium stands a monument to Miho Pracat, a shipowner from the island of Lopud who left his fortune to the Republic; the Senate erected it in 1638. The atrium's acoustics make it a favoured venue for concerts, and chamber opera has been staged there during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival since 1971.
From April to October the museum opens daily; from November to March it closes on Mondays and has shorter hours, and it shuts on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and the Feast of St Blaise. The best value is the combined Dubrovnik Museums ticket, valid for seven days across ten museums and galleries, with a family version for two adults and children up to 14. A free multimedia audio guide is available as an app.
Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The palace stands on Pred Dvorom, a few steps from Luža Square and the cathedral, so it fits neatly into a morning in the eastern half of the Old Town.
Rector’s Palace FAQs
What is inside the Rector's Palace?
The Cultural History Museum, with recreated state offices, a courtroom, prison cells, a chapel, reception salons and the rector's apartments, plus displays of coins, seals, weapons and goldsmiths' work.
Is the Rector's Palace open in winter?
Yes. From 1 November to 31 March it opens with shorter hours and is closed on Mondays.
Which days is it closed?
Dubrovnik Museums close on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and the Feast of St Blaise, and open only in the morning on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Is there a combined ticket?
Yes. The Dubrovnik Museums combined ticket covers ten museums and galleries, including the Rector's Palace, and is valid for seven days from first use.
Is there an audio guide?
A free multimedia audio guide is available as an app for iOS and Android.
Who was Miho Pracat?
A shipowner from Lopud who left his wealth to the Republic; the Senate honoured him with the monument in the atrium in 1638.
How long should I allow?
Around an hour to an hour and a half for the main floors and the mezzanine displays.
Are concerts held in the palace?
The atrium is used for concerts and has hosted chamber opera during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival since 1971.