Cavtat is a town in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. It is on the Adriatic Sea coast 15 kilometres (9 miles) south of Dubrovnik and is the centre of the Konavle municipality. The original city was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC under the name of Epidaurus (or Epidauros, Greek: Επίδαυρος). The surrounding area was inhabited by the Illyrians, who called the city Zaptal. The town changed its name to Epidaurum when it came under Roman rule in 228 BC. Justinian I the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire sent his fleet to Cavtat during the Gothic War (535–554) and occupied the town.The city was sacked and destroyed by the Avars and Slavs in the 7th century. Refugees from Epidaurum fled to the nearby island, Laus (Ragusa) which over time evolved into the city of Dubrovnik
Middle Ages The town was re-established in the Middle Ages (Italian: Ragusa Vecchia). After a short while it came under the control of its powerful neighbor, the Republic of Ragusa.The modern Croatian name for the city reveals its ancient origins and its link with Dubrovnik. Cavtat is derived from Civitas Vetus, that means old city in Latin Language.
Access : Coordinates : 42.579444, 18.220833 / avtat is about 10 – 15 minutes taxi ride from Dubrovnik Airport. The more intrepid can walk along a marked footpath from the airport to Cavtat it will take about an hour. Leave the airport and cross over the E60 main road into the village of Mecini where you will pick up signs of the footpath to Cavtat or Cilipi. There is a regular bus service between Dubrovnik and Cavtat, No.10, which operates at least hourly between the two towns (25 kn single journey). There are also hourly boat services between Cavtat and Dubrovnik old town it is the most convenient, if not the quickest way to arrive and depart from Dubrovnik (about 50 minutes: 80 kn round trip).
Attractions : Apart from the Racic family mausoleum and cemetery on the hill, you can visit St. Nicholas’ church (between the restaurants and the shops), the Franciscan Monastery and our Lady of the Snows (walk past all the restaurants, until the path narrows). The walks around both peninsulas are fine, with the western (Sustjepan) walk a little rougher, but more picturesque (there are new benches placed every 100 metros along the path). Walking around the peninsula takes 30-45 minutes. There are no facilities and no places to bathe, except at the beginning, near the town and at the end, at the Hotel Croatia.
The walk around the Rat peninsula is tarmaced and comfortable to walk, with only gentle slopes from time to time. There are one or two bathing areas, a good restaurant (the Rokotin) and a small, bohemian cliffside bar (near the private house at the tip of the peninsula). There is also a Roman ‘villa’ (signed from the path), but it is disappointing. The bathing area near the Iberostar Albatros hotel is rather good and not particularly crowded. There is a bar and restaurant (Domizana), both worth visiting. One can also catch boats to Dubrovnik and Locrum island here.
Go next : Mrkan Island /
