
The Rector's Palace (; ) is a
palace
A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...
in the city of
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, a Port, seaport and the centre of the Dubrovni ...
that used to serve as the seat of the
Rector of the
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa, or the Republic of Dubrovnik, was an maritime republics, aristocratic maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik (''Ragusa'' in Italian and Latin; ''Raguxa'' in Venetian) in South Dalmatia (today in southernmost ...
between the 14th century and 1808.
It was also the seat of the Minor Council and the state administration. Furthermore, it housed an armoury, the powder magazine, the watch house and a prison.
History
The Rector's Palace was built in the
Gothic style, but it also has
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
and
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
elements, harmoniously combining these elements.
Originally it was a site of a defence building in the early Middle Ages. It was destroyed by a fire in 1435 and the city-state decided to build a new palace. The job was offered to the master builder
Onofrio della Cava of Naples, who had previously built the aqueduct. It became a
Gothic building with ornaments sculpted by
Pietro di Martino of Milan. A gunpowder explosion badly damaged the building in 1463. The renewal was offered to the architect
Michelozzo
Michelozzo di Bartolomeo Michelozzi (; – 7 October 1472), known mononymously as Michelozzo, was an Italian architect and sculptor. Considered one of the great pioneers of architecture during the Renaissance, Michelozzo was a favored Medici ...
of Florence. But he was rejected in 1464 because his plans were too much in the style of the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
. Other builders continued the work. The capitals of the porch were reshaped in Renaissance style probably by
Salvi di Michele of Florence. He continued the reconstruction from 1467 on. The building suffered damages from the earthquake of 1520 and again in 1667. Reconstruction was in
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
style. A flight of stairs and a bell were added in the
atrium. In 1638 the Senate erected a monument to Miho Pracat (by
Pietro Giacometti of Recanati), a rich shipowner from
Lopud
Lopud () is a small island off the coast of Dalmatia, southern Croatia. Lopud is economically the most developed of the Elaphiti Islands, and can be reached by boat from Dubrovnik, Trsteno, Orašac and Zaton. The island is famous for its san ...
, who had bequeathed his wealth to Dubrovnik.
The History Department of the Museum of Dubrovnik has operated in the palace since 1872.
References
Further reading
*
* ''Dubrovnik, history, culture, art heritage'' by Antun Travirka; Forum, Zadar, 2014;
External links
{{Authority control
Republic of Ragusa
Buildings and structures in Dubrovnik
Buildings and structures completed in the 14th century
Museums in Dubrovnik
Tourist attractions in Dubrovnik