VISIT THE WONDERFUL STON (CROATIA) AND LEARN ABOUT ITS RICH HISTORY!

 Hello dear readers! If you would like to visit a fascinating historical settlement, you've come to the right place. Today I'm taking you to Ston, Croatia! We visited Ston town back in March 2023. As was the case with our last visit to Ston six years ago, this too was an unplanned  visit, a spur of the moment thing. My aunt and uncle were there for a Seafood festival, so we drove to Ston to meet them. We enjoyed a nice walk and grabbed a cup of coffee with them. We didn't have the time to linger or to join the food festival. My working hours are insane this year and the work never seems to end. At the same time, the prices of living are skyrocketing, so despite being exhausted, I'm always looking for additional work. So, as you can imagine I was very grateful for this short trip and a little break.

 The weather was simply perfect, sunny and warm. I do love that about the Mediterranean climate- you can count on it to deliver those perfect sunny days as early as March! One of the perks of living in Croatia (more specifically the coastal part) is the weather. The other is also specific for the Mediterranean region and that is the abundance of history and culture. As you know, I love being a tourist in my own country. Learning more about our fascinating history always makes me happy!

 If you want to see more of this town and read about it, Saltworks Ston is a nice site.  Walls of Ston is also worthy of  visit. Scroll down to learn and see more on my blog.

3 AMAZING HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT STON CITY

1. STON HAS THE LONGEST FORTIFIED WALLS IN EUROPE (AND THE SECOND LONGEST WALLS IN EUROPE BY LENGTH CRITERIA )

The Walls of Ston are second only to Hadrian's wall in England in length, earning them the second longest wall in Europe title. However, they are actually the first when it comes to fortified walls category. Ston boosts with the longest fortified walls in Europe!

2. STON HAS THE OLDEST SALTWORKS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA 

Besides the impressive fortified historical walls, Ston also has the oldest saltworks in the Mediterranean.  The salt is still harvested the same way in Ston saltworks!

3. STON IS THE SECOND FULLY PLANNED CITY IN EUROPE

 Ston was modeled on Dubrovnik and built according to the plans approved by the Dubrovnik government in 1335 and amended in 1370. Ston city city was build, maintained and protected by the Republic of Dubrovnik.  It is considered one of the best planned and best-structured cities in Europe. You could say it is a miniature of Dubrovnik, protected by Walls.  Within the Walls, there are fifteen blocks, each consisting of ten houses. Two most notable buildings to see are the Bishop's Palace and The Republic Chancellery. 

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THE EARLY HISTORY OF STON (CITED FROM WIKIPEDIA)

Because of its geopolitical and strategic position, Ston has had a rich history since ancient times. Located at the gates of the peninsula, surrounded by three seas, protected by four hills, rich in fresh water and saltwater, fertile plains, it has been an important political, cultural and ecclesiastical centre. There may have been a bishop at Ston as early as the late 7th or early 8th century.

Initially it was an Illyrian settlement until the Romans established their own colony there, in 167 BC.

In 533, at Salona, a diocese was established in Sarsenterum for the Zachlumia (Hum) area, which belonged to the church in Ston (Pardui). Later Sarsenterum was destroyed, most likely at the time of the Avars' campaign. Since Ston was not reached by the Avars, it was spared and became the seat of the local zhupa i.e. župa. As the secular and ecclesial powers grew, it is assumed that after the disappearance of Sarsenterum, Ston became a local ecclesiastical center. The diocese is first mentioned in 877, as an institution from an earlier time, and the bishop is listed as a suffragan of the metropolis of Split. With the establishment of a metropolis in Ragusa, Ston became a suffragan of the latter.

TALK ABOUT AMAZING HISTORY!

THE HISTORY OF THE WALLS OF STON

CITED FROM WIKIPEDIA: 

The Walls of Ston (Croatian: Stonske zidine) are a series of defensive stone walls, originally more than 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long, that surrounded and protected the city of Ston, in Dalmatia, part of the Republic of Ragusa, in what is now southern Croatia.[1] Their construction was begun in 1358.[2] On the Field Gate of the Walls (Poljska vrata) there is a Latin inscription which dates from 1506. Today, it is one of the longest preserved fortification systems in the world.[3]

The Walls of Ston were known as the "European Great Wall of China".[4]

Despite being well protected by massive city walls, the Republic of Ragusa used Pelješac to build another line of defence.^[5] At its narrowest point, just before it joins the mainland, a wall was built from Ston to Mali Ston.^[5] Throughout the era of the Republic, the walls were maintained and renovated once they meant to protect the precious salt pans that contributed to Dubrovnik's wealth, which are still being worked today.

Demolition work began on the walls following the fall of the Republic. Later the Austrian authorities took materials away from the wall to build schools and community buildings, and also for a triumphal arch on the occasion of the visit by the Austrian Emperor in 1884. The wall around Mali Ston was demolished with the excuse that it was damaging the health of the people. The demolition was halted after World War II.

The wall, today 5.5 kilometres long, links Ston to Mali Ston, and is in the shape of an irregular pentangle. It was completed in the 15th century, along with its 40 towers (20 of which have survived) and 5 fortresses. Within, three streets were laid from north to south and three others from east to west. Thus, fifteen equal blocks were formed with 10 houses in each. Residential buildings around the edges. The Gothic Republic Chancellery and the Bishop's Palace are outstanding among the public buildings.

The main streets are 6 m wide (except the southern street which is 8 m wide) and the side streets are two m wide. The town was entered by two city gates: the Field Gate (Poljska vrata) has a Latin inscription and dates from 1506. The centres of the system are the fortress Veliki kaštio in Ston, Koruna in Mali Ston and the fortress on Podzvizd hill (224 m). Noted artist who work on the walls project are Michelozzo, Bernardino Gatti of Parma and Giorgio da Sebenico (Juraj Dalmatinac).^[6]

The city plan of Dubrovnik was used as a model for Ston, but since Ston was built on prepared terrain, that model was more closely followed than Dubrovnik itself.

Ian Plummer (USA) currently holds the world record for fastest run over the wall connecting Ston to Mali Ston. The record was set on June 15, 2019. While the female record was set by Cora Taylor (UK) on July 8th, 2019.

MORE LINKS

• Ston
• Walls of Dubrovnik
• List of cities with defensive walls
• List of castles in Croatia
• Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Croatia
• STON, HRVATSKA ENCIKLOPEDIJA (korisno za informacije na hrvatskom) 

CITED FROM SALTWORKS SALT SITE- THE HISTORY

The area of Ston thanks to its geographical position, fertile fields, abundance of water and salinity, natural resources as well as a short peninsula which connects Pelješac with the main land, became a very important residence area for people. Solana dates back to the Roman times, two thousand years B.C. In ancient times the area was inhabited by the Ilyrians and Greeks and from 167 B.C. the Roman rule begins and this is the first time that exploitation and salt collecting is mentioned in are Ston area.The Ston salt pans are the oldest in Europe and the largest preserved ones in the history of the Mediterranean. Way back in 877. The Ston diocese is mentioned, so it is assumed that this is the oldest diocese on Croatian ethnic space. The Romans leave behind them the distribution of the Ston fields and the name of this area Stagnum – Stamnum which means stagnant or still water. This indeed is an indication that already in those times there was salinity and that the name came from the natural characteristics of the area – the salt pans.

After a turbulent history and various rulings in 1333 Ston becomes an integral part of the Dubrovnik Republic. Along with Dubrovnik, Ston was economically and strategically the most important place in the Dubrovnik Republic and the second town in Europe that was built planned and it came from the salt that brought 1/3 of the income to the Dubrovnik Republic. To protect the pans monumental walls were built in the 14th and 15th century and they were a reflection to the Dubrovnik walls and the fortresses carry the same names. The largest enterprise during those times was the construction of two new towns as part of the Dubrovnik Republic – Ston and Mali Ston and a mile long wall between them with a tower on top of the hill (14th century). This is how the whole Pelješac peninsula was protected from potential attacks from the land in order to preserve the biggest value in the depths of the bay „Ston slat pans“ which for centuries produced sea salt which was the best selling product of the Dubrovnik Republic. The former value of Ston as the city of salt is confirmed even nowadays in the plant of the oldest active salt pans in the world.

MY POST FROM 2017

The tradition of harvesting salt has been passed on for over 4000 years and since then salt is produced in the same way with only the assistance of the sea, sun and wind. 

Solana Ston consists of 58 pools divided into 5 groups as the whole sat producing process has to go through five stages which last one to two months depending on weather conditions.There are nine pools for the crystallization process and all but one Mundo (world) are named after saints (Francis, Nicholas, Balthazar, Anthony, Joseph, John, Peter and Paul). During the Dubrovnik Republic times the pools Blaise and Lazarus which have granite bottoms were also used and from which the purest salt was extracted and was then sent to the Wienna court. Salt is produced by a process of sea water evaporation in the big shallow pools of the salt pans and the harvest and salt production takes place during the summer months, more precisely from April to October. From the nine crystallization pools you can harvest about 500 tons of salt annually.In the Dubrovnik Republic during salt harvest time all the inhabitants of Ston and the surrounding areas that were of working age were involved in the harvest as salt production has always been of extraordinary economic importance. 

Production, transport and trade of salt in the economic sense in Ston was of big importance and brought a profit of 15,900 gold coins per year to the Dubrovnik Republic which was the highest profit. Solana Ston with its present arrangement dating back to the Dubrovnik Republic times represents the complexity of the salt production from the Middle ages and is a top class historical monument and is a very popular tourist site. The method of salt production has not changed over the centuries and in such environmentally friendly and healthy conditions guarantees maintenance of excellent salt quality which meets all the needs of today's modern times.

ISN'T THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE FASCINATING?

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN STON TOWN? MY RECOMMENDATIONS!

- ENJOY STROLLING AROUND AND SEEING 'MINIATURE DUBROVNIK'

- VISIT THE 4000 THOUSAND YEAR OLD SALT PANS

- BUY ORGANIC SALT AND SALT SOUVENIRS

- ENJOY THE AMAZING RESTAURANTS BEST KNOWN FOR SEAFOOD 

- VISIT MUSEUMS, HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND CHURCHES

- WALK THE FAMOUS WALLS OF STON

- PET THE VERY FRIENDLY CATS 

- AND FINALLY TAKE MANY PHOTOS!

LEARN MORE ABOUT STON CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES HERE

DON'T FORGET TO READ ABOUT MY PREVIOUS VISITS TO 

STON AND MALI STON!

THANK YOU!