Sponza Palace

Sponza Palace stands at the eastern end of Stradun on Luza Square in Dubrovnik's Old Town, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva region of Croatia. Built between 1516 and 1522, it served the Republic of Ragusa as a customs house, mint and treasury, and it is one of the few major buildings that survived the 1667 earthquake. The facade combines a Renaissance ground-floor arcade with Venetian Gothic windows above, and the inscription in the atrium records the principle that weights and measures must be honest. The atrium is a public space that hosts exhibitions and events during the Summer Festival. The palace houses the State Archives, which hold documents of the Republic going back to the 12th century, and the Memorial Room of the Dubrovnik Defenders, which commemorates those killed during the siege of 1991 to 1995 with photographs and portraits. Entry to the atrium and Memorial Room is free, and a visit usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Opening hours of the atrium are daytime, and exhibitions follow seasonal schedules. The square outside is the focal point of the Old Town, with the Bell Tower, the Orlando Column and the Church of St Blaise nearby, and photographs of the palace work best from the steps of the Church of St Blaise or from the corner of Stradun. Crowds peak at midday, and mid-morning is generally calmer. The Memorial Room is sombre and photography may be restricted, so visitors should check signage.