Lazareti

Lazareti is a restored 17th-century quarantine complex at Ulica Frana Supila 8, just east of Ploce Gate in Dubrovnik, in Croatia's Dubrovnik-Neretva region. It is a legacy of the Republic of Ragusa's 1377 quarantine law, one of the earliest in Europe, which required travellers arriving from plague-affected areas to spend a period in isolation before entering the city. The complex consists of ten long stone halls arranged around five courtyards, where merchants and their goods were held under watch, close to the sea on the edge of the walls. Today the buildings are a cultural venue managed by the city, with workshops, artists' studios, exhibitions, concerts and a Sunday folklore programme. The courtyards are open during the day and visitors can walk through them for free, usually in about 20 minutes. The architecture is plain and functional, with long arcaded wings and wide stone arches, and the restored spaces show how the Republic managed health and trade. Evening events are the main reason to visit, including folklore performances, festival programmes and club nights, and event tickets vary in price. The location is a three-minute walk east of Ploce Gate on the road towards Banje Beach, so it combines naturally with a swim or a visit to the Old Port. Crowds are small compared with the Old Town, and the courtyards are quietest in the morning. The best photographs are of the repeating arches along the courtyard wings in low evening light.