Rector's Palace (Cultural History Museum)

The Rector's Palace at Pred Dvorom 3 in Dubrovnik's Old Town was the seat of the rectors of the Republic of Ragusa, who were elected for terms of one month and could not leave the building without permission from the Senate during their term. The building combines Gothic and Renaissance elements: a loggia with columns and carved capitals faces the square, and an arcaded atrium inside is used for concerts during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Today the palace houses the Cultural History Museum, part of the Dubrovnik Museums group, with period furnished rooms, portraits of rectors, official seals, coins, weapons, keys of the city and the state apartment where the rector lived. A stone staircase leads from the atrium to the upper floor, and a bust in the courtyard honours Miho Pracat, a wealthy sailor who left his fortune to the Republic. Visitors normally need about an hour, and an audio guide in several languages helps with context. The museum is open daily from April to October, 09:00 to 18:00, and from November to March it closes at 16:00 and on Mondays, while it also closes on 25 December, 1 January and 3 February. Adult admission is EUR 15 (about $17), students and schoolchildren pay EUR 8, children under 7 enter free and a family ticket costs EUR 35. The palace is included in the 10 Museums ticket at EUR 20 and in the Dubrovnik Pass. Crowds are largest from late morning to mid-afternoon, so visiting at the 09:00 opening or after 16:00 gives quieter rooms. The best photograph is of the atrium arcade from the central courtyard, particularly in morning light, and the loggia facing the cathedral gives a view of the square.