Surroundings, Dubrovnik

In the far south of Croatia lies the little fishing village and seaside resort of Cavtat. The town curves around a horseshoe shaped harbor. It is only 17 km / 10mi from Dubrovnik and can either be explored on a day trip, or serve as a base for exploring Dubrovnik. Cavtat has numerous hotels and good facilities for travelers. It is also a very pleasant spot with numerous beaches in the area and some historic and cultural attractions.Cavtat is built on the site of a Roman town that was known as Epidaurum, although there are only a few ruins, including a theatre. A collection known as the Baltazar Bogisic Collection is housed in the 16th Century Renaissance Rector's Palace (Knezev Dvor). On display are a variety of art works, coins, and Roman pieces. The Vlaho Bukovac Gallery is set up in the house of this artist's birthplace. Also, one of the highlights of Cavtat is the Racic Mausoleum designed by sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.

Reached only by boat, Mljet National Park (Nacionalni Park Mljet) is located on Miljet island, known to the ancient Greeks as Melita. The Park is on the northwestern portion of the island and encompasses 98 sq km. It is almost completely covered with a stands of Aleppo pine and Holm oak.Mljet National Park has no snakes, they were eradicated by the Indian mongoose, introduced to control their populations. The mongoose still remain and can be seen hiding out in the underbrush.Mljet National Park still contains numerous Roman era ruins, which were once the holiday homes of the wealthy residents of Salona. The Monastery of St Mary is a unique site that should not be missed when touring the park. Located on a small island in the center of Big Lake, the Monastery of St Mary was built in the 12th century and is currently being restored.For those intent on catching some rays on a beach, Sublunary will fit the bill. It is located at the very southern extent of the island.