Seat of the rector and councils of the Republic of Ragusa; the rector served a one-month term and could not leave the palace without permission.
The Rector's Palace stands at Pred Dvorom 3 in the old town of Dubrovnik, Croatia, beside the cathedral and a short walk from Luza Square. It was the seat of the rector and of the Minor Council and Great Council of the Republic of Ragusa, the city-state that governed Dubrovnik and its territory until 1808. The rector was elected for a single month at a time and, by law, could not leave the palace without the permission of the Senate, a rule designed to prevent any one patrician from accumulating personal power. Gunpowder stored in the building exploded in 1435 and again in 1463, and the present structure is largely the work of the rebuilding that followed. Onofrio della Cava was commissioned for the first reconstruction, after which Michelozzo di Bartolomeo of Florence and the Dalmatian master Juraj Dalmatinac shaped the Gothic-Renaissance synthesis visible today. The street facade has an open loggia of round arches on sturdy columns with carved capitals, while the inner atrium combines Renaissance arcades with a Gothic staircase and a well. In the atrium stands a bust of Miho Pracat, a wealthy sea captain from Lopud who bequeathed his fortune to the Republic and was the only person ever honoured with a public monument by the state. The palace also held the city's armoury, the treasury, the salt office and a prison, and it hosted the Council chambers. Since the 20th century it has housed the Cultural History Museum, part of Dubrovnik Museums. Period rooms display furniture, paintings by Dubrovnik and Italian masters, portraits of patricians, coins minted by the Republic, weapons, official seals and the ceremonial keys of the city. The approach is chronological and by room function, so visitors move from the rector's apartments to the chambers of state. The 1667 earthquake damaged the complex, and later phases of repair and conservation have kept the stone facade and atrium in good condition. The atrium is also a principal venue of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, whose evening concerts take advantage of its acoustics.
| Admission | EUR 15 (~$17); 10 Museums ticket EUR 20 (~$23) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Apr-Oct daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar 09:00-16:00, closed Monday |
| Address | Pred Dvorom 3, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia |
Why it matters
The palace was the seat of the rector and the councils of the Republic of Ragusa, which governed Dubrovnik as an independent maritime state until 1808. It embodies the Republic's distinctive system of rotating, short-term executive office.
Location
Pred Dvorom 3, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
42.6405, 18.1108 View on map
Highlights
- Renaissance atrium with the bust of benefactor Miho Pracat
- Gothic-Renaissance loggia with carved capitals, the work of Onofrio della Cava, Michelozzo and Juraj Dalmatinac
- Cultural History Museum period rooms, coins and ceremonial keys of the city
- Concerts in the atrium during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival
Tips for visiting
- Buy the 10 Museums ticket (EUR 20) if also visiting the Rupe Granary, Maritime Museum or Ethnographic Museum.
- Visit soon after opening, when tour groups from cruise ships have not yet arrived.
- Check the Summer Festival programme: evening atrium concerts are among the best ways to see the space.
- Allow about an hour for the museum rooms and the atrium.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to the Rector's Palace take?
Most visitors need 45 to 75 minutes to see the atrium and the Cultural History Museum rooms.
Can the palace be visited with children?
Yes. The rooms are compact, and children generally enjoy the coins, weapons and keys, though the exhibits are behind rope barriers and not interactive.
Why could the rector not leave the palace?
The Republic limited each rector to a one-month term and confined him to the palace to prevent the concentration of personal power in one patrician.