Minceta Tower

Minčeta Tower is the great round tower that anchors the north-western corner of Dubrovnik's city walls, and at the highest point of the walls it is both the strongest fortification in the circuit and the best viewpoint over the old town. From the Pile Gate, the walls climb steeply to the tower, which rises above the red roofs and the straight line of the Stradun below. It is the building most often seen on photographs of the walled city taken from the Srđ hill, and it has become one of the symbols of Dubrovnik.

The tower takes its name from the Menčetić family, who owned the land on which the first fortress stood, and the earliest tower here was a square fort dating from the early fourteenth century. In the middle of the fifteenth century, when the threat of Ottoman expansion and of siege artillery pressed Dubrovnik to strengthen its defences, the Republic hired the Florentine architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo and the local master Juraj Dalmatinac, who is known in Italian as Giorgio da Sebenico. They rebuilt the tower in a round form around 1463, with very thick walls, gun ports and a crown of battlements. The round shape and the massive masonry were designed to resist cannon fire, and the result is a tower that looks every bit as powerful today as it did then. The walls and fortifications of Dubrovnik were again under attack in 1991, during the siege of the city, and the old town was later listed by UNESCO for its outstanding value and for the restoration after the war.

You enter the tower as part of a walk along the walls, which requires a ticket and is usually done as a circuit. The route to the top involves many steep steps, and the stone is worn and can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip and take your time. At the summit, a large terrace gives a view in every direction: south over the tiled roofs and the harbour to the island of Lokrum, west toward Fort Lovrijenac, and north along the coast. Inside the tower, a small exhibition occupies part of the lower level. Fans of television will recognise the tower as a filming location for Game of Thrones, where it appeared as the House of the Undying.

For the best experience, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when temperatures are lower and crowds are thinner, and bring water and a hat since there is little shade. Cruise ship days can make the walls very busy. The tower is a short walk from the Pile Gate, the Stradun, the Rector's Palace and the cathedral, which are all covered separately in this guide. Allow at least an hour for the full climb. It suits history lovers, photographers and anyone who wants the classic view of Dubrovnik.