Venture inside the monumental St. John’s Fortress to explore the Dubrovnik Aquarium and Maritime Museum. Exhibits are spread across three floors of this medieval structure which protected the city’s harbour for more than five centuries. See tanks filled with fish that are native to the south Adriatic Sea and discover how maritime trade fuelled the growth of the former Dubrovnik Republic.
The aquarium is located on the first floor of the building. Observe moray eels, octopuses, sea horses and an abundance of other species. They are housed in tanks that are fed by streams of fresh seawater. Many of the tanks are situated in niches in the fort’s old stone walls.
Head to the second and third floors for the Maritime Museum. During its golden age, Dubrovnik was a wealthy merchant republic and one of Europe’s most powerful maritime regions. Exhibits chart the rise and development of Dubrovnik Republic and its shipbuilding industry.
Study displays of old atlases, maps and navigational instruments. Observe paintings of sea battles, ships and important naval figures. Examine scale models of steamships and sailing ships and browse the collection of sailors’ uniforms. Among the other exhibits are anchors, canons, objects retrieved from shipwrecks and a traditional ship’s wheel with its cylindrical wooden spokes.
The Dubrovnik Aquarium and Maritime Museum is situated in the old city port and can be reached by going down a side street opposite Dubrovnik Cathedral. There are separate entrances to the museum and aquarium, but the admission fee covers access to both attractions. They are open every day except Mondays, with extended opening hours in the summer.
As you leave the fort, look back to appreciate the size and scale of the stronghold and the city’s old stone defensive walls.
