The Ploče Gate

If the west side of the city has Pile Gate, the east is equally well served with Ploče Gate. Part of Dubrovnik’s mighty city walls, this entrance still connects the outside world to the historic centre. The current outer section was built in 1628 by architect Mihajlo Hranjac, more than 80 years after its western “twin”, though a gate had stood here since the 15th century. This was the point where caravans of merchants from the East once arrived to trade in Dubrovnik. Like Pile Gate, it’s reached by crossing a stone bridge, a reminder of the days when a wooden drawbridge guarded the approach. Topped with a statue of Saint Blaise, the city’s patron saint, Ploče Gate also boasts an extra defensive edge: it’s directly connected to Revelin Fortress, which once strengthened this side of the city’s fortifications.