Cavtat
Encyclopedia
Cavtat is a town in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County
of Croatia
. It is on the Adriatic
seacoast 15 km south of Dubrovnik
and is the centre of the Konavle
municipality.
Cavtat is a Croatian city with a long history. The original city was founded by the Greeks
in the 6th century BC under the name of Epidaurus
(or Epidauros). Its original name is similar to the city in Peloponnese
which had the god Asclepius
as its protector. 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.
The town was re-established in the Middle Ages (Ragusa-Vecchia). After a short while it came under the control of its powerful neighbor, the Republic of Ragusa
.
The modern Croatia
n 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.
Today, Cavtat is a popular tourist destination with many hotels and private households that rent rooms and apartments. The seafront is filled with shops and restaurants. A ferry boat connects the town to neighbouring Mlini and Dubrovnik
. There are often many private luxury ships along the strand.
The town cemetery contains a mausoleum
belonging to the Račić family and decorated by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović
.
Dubrovnik-Neretva County
The Dubrovnik–Neretva County is the southernmost Croatian county located in south Dalmatia. The county seat is Dubrovnik and other large towns are Korčula, Metković, Opuzen and Ploče...
of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. It is on the Adriatic
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
seacoast 15 km south of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
and is the centre of the Konavle
Konavle
Konavle is a small region and municipality located southeast of Dubrovnik, Croatia.It is administratively part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and forms a municipality with its center at Gruda with a total population of 8,250 people split in 32 villages, in which 96.5% are Croats...
municipality.
History
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
in the 6th century BC under the name of Epidaurus
Epidaurus (Dalmatia)
Epidaurus was an ancient Greek colony in Dalmatia founded sometime in the 6th century BC.The town changed its name to Epidaurum during Roman rule in 228 BC....
(or Epidauros). Its original name is similar to the city in Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
which had the god Asclepius
Asclepius
Asclepius is the God of Medicine and Healing in ancient Greek religion. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters are Hygieia , Iaso , Aceso , Aglæa/Ægle , and Panacea...
as its protector. The surrounding area was inhabited by the Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
, who called the city Zaptal.
The town changed its name to Epidaurum when it came under Roman rule in 228 BC. Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
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
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
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.
The town was re-established in the Middle Ages (Ragusa-Vecchia). After a short while it came under the control of its powerful neighbor, the Republic of Ragusa
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
.
The modern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n 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.
Today, Cavtat is a popular tourist destination with many hotels and private households that rent rooms and apartments. The seafront is filled with shops and restaurants. A ferry boat connects the town to neighbouring Mlini and Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
. There are often many private luxury ships along the strand.
The town cemetery contains a mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
belonging to the Račić family and decorated by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović
Ivan Meštrovic
Ivan Meštrović was a Croatian and Yugoslav sculptor and architect born in Vrpolje, Croatia...
.
Notable people
- Biagio Faggioni (1855–1922), painter
- Tino PattieraTino PattieraTino Pattiera was a Croatian tenor, born in Cavtat in 27 June 1890 and died 24 April 1966. Prior to taking up the repertory for which he became famous, he was notable in operetta....
(1890–1966), opera singer - Luko ZoreLuko ZoreLuko Zore , Luko involved into a Serb-Catholic circle, with all the big intelectuals of the XIX cenrury in Dubrovnik and Montenegrin philologist and Slavist, and was one of the leading opposition fighting against the foreign forces of Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy in Dubrovnik.At that time...
(1846–1906), philologist and Slavist - Frano SupiloFrano SupiloFrano Supilo was a Croatian politician and journalist. He was a major political figure in the twenty years preceding World War I....
(1870–1917), politician - Baltazar BogišićBaltazar BogišicValtazar Bogišić was a Serbian jurist, law historian and ethnologist. In domain of private law his most notable works are researches on family structure and the unique Montenegrin civil code from 1888. He is considered to be a pioneer in the area of sociology of law and legal ethnology research...
(1834–1908), jurist, law historian and ethnologist - Niko KoprivicaNiko KoprivicaNiko Koprivica was a politician of the Croatian Peasant Party who was mayor of Dubrovnik in the final days of it being a part of the Independent State of Croatia. He was a lawyer by profession....
(1889–1944), politician - Dinko ZlatarićDinko ZlataricDominko "Dinko" Zlatarić was a poet and translator from Republic of Ragusa, considered the best translator of the Renaissance.-Life:...
(1558–1613), poet and translator - Raimondo CunichRaimondo CunichRajmundo Kunić was a Greek and Latin humanist.Kunić was born in the Republic of Ragusa, in the small town of Cavtat, he lost his father early in life. In 1734, at age fifteen, he was sent to the order of the Society of Jesus in Rome...
(1719–1794), humanist
See also
- CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
- DubrovnikDubrovnikDubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
- DalmatiaDalmatiaDalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
- Republic of RagusaRepublic of RagusaThe Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
- EpidaurusEpidaurus (Dalmatia)Epidaurus was an ancient Greek colony in Dalmatia founded sometime in the 6th century BC.The town changed its name to Epidaurum during Roman rule in 228 BC....