Tradition and heritage of the Dubrovnik region

There are few places that captivate all the senses and fill a person with serenity and strength like the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. On the one hand, the scents of the sea, stone, laurel, olive and bura wind, and on the other, the scent of grass, forest, fresh summer and harsh winter. On one side, the taste of fish, salt, olive oil and rosemary, and on the other, the taste of fresh milk and cheeses, lamb roasted on a spit or under the iron bell (peka-style) with golden roasted potatoes, cabbage and meat and drinking water from the spring. Between the sea and the forests, lofty mountain massifs combine and separate all these scents and tastes, sending them down the paths and roads with air currents for the joy and benefit of its inhabitants and guests, travelers.

Croatia takes your breath away over and over again with its uniqueness and natural beauty. Natural beauty is just the beginning of exploration. The story continues through rich history and stormy centuries from Roman times to the present day; through culture, an important element of the authenticity of this area, the people and their customs that have been preserved to this day, and the exceptional richness of gastronomy and a number of other specialties and possibilities which Croatia openly offers to all who visit it.

Places and landscapes, food and people, history and tradition, events and customs, tastes and recipes of local cuisine, reveal to you the attention we dedicate to traditions in the Dubrovnik region.

Follow the paths of our ancestors, let the scents and tastes of stone, sea and bura wind permeate your palate. You will be amazed by the patience of our grandparents who were carefully taking care of their knowledge on jewelry and folk costumes making and passed it on to younger generations.

Architecture carved in stone, visions translated into reality, the beauty of a dream at your fingertips - peek into the streets of the Old Town, lean your back on history, touch the stone - be a part of what today is called pride and courage.

To make the impression stay in your memory, to evoke nostalgic historical times, wear one of the folk costumes and dance to the steps of the traditional rhythm. Experience how an embroidered cloth costume flutters in the wind, how it looks when bura clears the air and blushes the cheeks, and when the colors in nature look like an artist's painted canvas.

After you have experienced the smiling faces and hospitality of the locals, the path takes us further for a walk through the Konavle villages and for the liquid gold – honey tasting. Peek into the hives of hardworking bees, breathe in the scent of flowers from which everything turns into a sweet, fragrant, golden texture; close your eyes, sharpen your senses, breathe in the wealth of flavors and aromas.

If you want to hear the sound of the sea, we take you further offshore... Set sail from the heaven on earth - Dubrovnik - and let the gentle breeze take you around thirteen Elaphite islands, their beaches, caves and clear blue sea. Sail further towards Mljet and its national park. Mljet is the largest island of the Dubrovnik archipelago, and there is also a refuge for the Mediterranean monk seal, which with a little luck you can even see. On the western part of the island is the Mljet National Park, which will simply leave you speechless with its untouched nature, the beauty of the Great and Small Lakes connected to the open sea by a narrow strait, as well as the islet of St. Mary with the Benedictine monastery from the 12th century.

People here live with nature, listen to it, respect it and use its gifts. Among older residents, the knowledge and picking of wild herbs, which complement seafood menus, is still alive and present. It kept only the best of what nature offers. Hence the old proverb saying: ‘’Let your food be your medicine, and let your medicine be your food.’’

Wander into nature with the locals, let their stories be your guide about medicinal herbs, where you will pick them and discover the recipe for your medicine. Who knows - maybe it will rejuvenate you and bring you back to the era when such a life was an everyday thing.

A special place in the gastronomy of Mljet is taken by eels prepared grilled or cooked in a fish stew. Vegetables that grow in sunny valleys close to the sea are an inevitable part of the Mljet table and are important ingredients of many dishes.

The pleasure of various seafood specialties and vegetables is enhanced by good wine from the cellars of the island's winemakers and top quality olive oil from the
olive groves of Mljet.

This time, the fairy tale takes us further to the Pelješac peninsula, a half-an-hour ferry ride from the island of Mljet. We will take a peek at the town of Ston, taste oysters on board, a well-known natural aphrodisiac, harvested from the sea in your own presence.

Tradition, heritage, culture and gastronomy permeate this region like a romantic melody of ancient times. Fall in love with this secret corner of flora and fauna and become aware of the beauty of untouched nature and the taste of the highest-quality gastronomy.