Standing on the eastern rim of Luža Square, the Rector’s Palace (Knežev dvor) was the seat of the city-state’s government as well as serving as the armoury and the city gaol.

Largely undamaged by Dubrovnik’s 1667 earthquake, it is a handsome Renaissance building with a porch held up by a sublime row of columns, many sporting exquisitely carved capitals.

The arch at the extreme right of the colonnade bears a relief of Asclepius, Graeco-Roman god of medicine, surrounded by beakers and vials. Inside the building, the Cultural History Museum contains a rich collection of paintings and furniture over the ages.

There is also a mock-up of the desk once occupied by the city-state’s Rector, an elected ruler who was only allowed to occupy the top governmental post for a limited amount of time – thereby lessening the chances of corruption and abuse of power.

Practical Info

Cultural History Museum:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - Sunday: 09:00 - 18:00

Tickets: €15 for Cultural History Museum; €20 for Cultural History Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Maritime Museum and several other historical sites.