Fort Lovrijenac or St. Lawrence Fortress, Italian Fortezza di San Lorenzo, often called "Dubrovnik's Gibraltar", is a fortress and theater outside the western wall of the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, above sea level. Famous for its plays and importance in resisting Venetian rule, it overshadows the two entrances to the city, from the sea, and by land. Early in the 11th century, the Venetians attempted to build a fort on the same spot where Fort Lovrijenac currently stands. If they had succeeded, they would have kept Dubrovnik under their power, but the people of the city beat them to it. The "Chronicles of Ragusa" reveal how the fort was built within just three months and from then on constantly reconstructed. When the Venetian ships arrived, full of materials for the construction of the fort, they were told to return to Venice.
Construction Date
Chronologists date the fort to 1018 or 1038. However first records of the forts existence are from 1301 when the council voted on the Commander of the Fort.
Layout of the fort
Lovrijenac has a triangular shape with three terraces. The thickness of the walls facing the outside reach whereas the section of the walls facing the inside, the actual city, are only thick. Two drawbridges lead to the fort and above the gate, there is an inscription Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro (Liberty Cannot Be Sold for All The Gold in the World).
Gallery
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File:LOVRIJENAC 2.JPG
File:LOVRIJENAC 3.JPG
File:LOVRIJENAC 4.JPG
File:LOVRIJENAC 5.JPG
File:LOVRIJENAC 9.JPG
File:Hrvatska zastava na Lovrijencu.JPG
File:LOVRIJENAC 22.JPG
File:LOVRIJENAC 24.JPG
File:Cannon on the Fort Lovrijenac.jpg
File:Pogled na Dubrovnik s Lovrijenca.JPG
File:Pogled s utvrde Lovrijenac na Dan neovisnosti 2014.JPG
</gallery>
See also
- Walls of Dubrovnik