If you’re looking for a scenic and walkable city that is packed with history, culture, excellent restaurants and bars, nearby beaches, and more, then few places could truly hope to compete with a vacation rental in Dubrovnik. A serious looker of a city with the kind of incredible historic centre and impeccable landmarks that made it become a filming location for the cinematic fantasy setting of the medieval towns of Game of Thrones, it is a magical place to come and wander about. In fact, we’ve previously highlighted how you can go on a tour of the key spots from the beloved HBO series as you explore the city.
However, even if you’re not a fan of the show, there are endless reasons to go strolling about the centre and endless incredible gems that you might stumble upon on your travels. From little family-owned eateries, to unique boutiques, to pretty squares with cafes, to architectural gems, to charming streets that are beyond picturesque, as you walk around historic Dubrovnik, you never know what you might find! You might even find wonderful things in surprising packages. For example, you may well wander past the 15th century Dominican monastery and church of Saint Sebastian, which looks like many other churches in the city from the exterior. However, there is much more to this fascinating building. It is, in fact, home to a rather remarkable collection of artworks and more by Croatian artists and designers.
Located in the Old City near the Ploče Gate, the Sebastian Art Gallery can be found at 5 Ul. Svetog Dominika and is a famous and highly reputed exhibition space in the city. The old church forms the biggest exhibition space, where you will find an impressive curation of works by contemporary artists and designers from Croatia, while various rooms in the monastery are used for temporary exhibitions, private hire, and the gallery shop. In addition to the temporary showcases by specific artists and the main exhibition, the Sebastian Art Gallery is also particularly known for its promotion and presentation of examples of paintings and sculptures from the Croatian naïve art movement (an international art movement that began the 20th century and has been defined by the Tate Britain as art that is “simple, unaffected and unsophisticated” and “usually specifically refers to art made by artists who have had no formal training in an art school or academy”), hand made ceramics in the "Raku" technique, replicas of church ornaments, and traditional jewellery. The gallery shop is where you can purchase various prints, gifts, and a spectacular collection of hand made items that can be packed and internationally shipped so you don’t even have to worry about making space in your suitcase! Those with larger budgets can also buy various bigger pieces or original artworks and also have these shipped on home ahead of them. A portion of the income from all purchases in the gallery also go towards funding the restoration and upkeep of the church and monastery and to maintaining the collections. Free to visit during opening hours, tours are also possible so do ask upon arrival!
So, if you find your holiday rental in Dubrovnik and you are coming to discover all of the city's unique charms and to delve into her plentiful surprises and delights, then be sure to pay extra attention at what is hidden behind the exteriors that you pass. And, of course, if you are an art-lover, then make a point of it to stop by the wonderful Saint Sebastian church and the Sebastian Art Gallery within.
Sebastian Art Gallery
Ul. Svetog Dominika 5, Old City, Dubrovnik
info@sebastianart.net
+38520358140
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday, 9am-8pm