"Next year we will continue works on the walls up to Bokar fortress and then we will have a complete tour, a praiseworthy new cultural and touristic offer of the Old Town"
After two years of construction works worth 3 million kunas, on Thursday evening for the first time in 550 years the public gained access to the renovated interior of the Minčeta fortress, together with a part of the western wall and Ironworks Museum from the 16th century in the Gornji Ugao fort, Dulist reported on July 14, 2017.
President of the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities (DPDS) Niko Kapetanić stated the central idea was to restore the Minčeta in a way so visitors would not notice anything was done.
“We wanted it to remain as it was. I believe we have succeeded in this. The interior of Minčeta is composed of three levels, two of which are kazamati, hallways with cannon positions, while water channels will also be presented. Minčeta served to distribute water across the Old Town. We also restored part of the western wall, from where we will be able to enter the Gornji Ugao fort with the ironworks. Next year we will continue works on the walls up to Bokar fortress and then we will have a complete tour, a praiseworthy new cultural and touristic offer of the Old Town,” said Kapetanić and added the works began in 2015.
Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković said he is proud of DPDS restoring monumental heritage anywhere in the area of the former Dubrovnik Republic. He ascertained the least important issue is how the income from visitors is divided, and the most important being it is spent transparently.
“The least important issue between the town and the society is who gets how much money, while it is most important for it to be spent transparently and for DPDS and the town to contribute to heritage restoration all across the former Dubrovnik Republic. For the first time in 550 years the interior of Minčeta is open to visitors to view the entire wealth of our history. The Dubrovnik Republic represented harmony and measure, no need to say how much DPDS means to the restoration of heritage and Dubrovnik. We must always view Dubrovnik Town in a wider context, not just within its limits, but as an entire area of the former Republic. When the Society restores the Duke’s Court in Slano, I don’t look at it with jealousy, but as an additional offer of our town. That also is Dubrovnik and it is all our additional tourism offer,” said Franković.
