Dubrovnik is a great template for a walled fantasy city already, thanks to its prominence in Game of Thrones.
Notably, Dubrovnik highly valued liberty (abolishing slavery in the 15th century), using diplomacy and its economic wealth to send merchant ships (known as argosy) all over the world. Their ships flew with a white flag and the Latin phrase "Libertas" (freedom) prominently featured on it.
Dubrovnik's walls have served it well. The city was saved from a sneak attack by the Venetians thanks to the prescience of St. Blaise, the city's patron saint, who warned Dubrovnik of an impending attack by the Venetian fleet just outside the city walls. Seeing that their surprise attack was thwarted with little hope of scaling the city walls, they retreated.
Dubrovnik's walled city has served as the backdrop for George R. R. Martin's own walled city, King's Landing in Game of Thrones television series, with several scenes filmed on location. There are tourist attractions throughout the city celebrating this fact, including a reproduction of the Iron Throne and an opportunity to dress up and take pictures with a life-sized dragon.
In a fantasy campaign, these walls can serve as a powerful symbol of defense and security, but also of the isolation and tension that comes with living in a fortress city.
But quarantine was just one of Dubrovnik's medical innovations. The city had medical services as early as 1300, with the first pharmacy (still operating to this day!) opening soon after. Other innovations include an almshouse and orphanage.
In a fantasy campaign, a Dubrovnik-inspired city might be a center of healing and alchemical knowledge for clerics and druids.
St. Blaise’s relics in Dubrovnik include parts of his skull, a right hand, and a number of other smaller body parts. These are displayed during the city's annual feast in his honor, on February 3rd, and are carried in procession through the streets, believed to provide protection and blessings to the city and its inhabitants.
In addition to those of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik's treasury holds: the arm of St. Stephen, believed to be the first Christian martyr; a piece of the True Cross; and various bones, teeth, and other body parts of saints, each with its own story and significance (photos are not allowed of the treasury, the items pictured above are displayed in the pharmacological museum).
In a fantasy campaign, these numerous relics might be lent to powerful characters in times of need. They were considered key to protecting Dubrovnik itself and also attributed healing powers.
Meet Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. Dubrovnik was allied with Ancona, a rival of Venice, developing competing trade routes.Notably, Dubrovnik highly valued liberty (abolishing slavery in the 15th century), using diplomacy and its economic wealth to send merchant ships (known as argosy) all over the world. Their ships flew with a white flag and the Latin phrase "Libertas" (freedom) prominently featured on it.
The Wall
Dubrovnik is a walled city, which runs over 1 mile around, and is from 12 to 20 feet thick. The walls reach a maximum height of about 80 feet and are reinforced by three circular and 14 quadrangular towers, five bastions (bulwarks), two angular fortifications and a large fortress.Dubrovnik's walls have served it well. The city was saved from a sneak attack by the Venetians thanks to the prescience of St. Blaise, the city's patron saint, who warned Dubrovnik of an impending attack by the Venetian fleet just outside the city walls. Seeing that their surprise attack was thwarted with little hope of scaling the city walls, they retreated.
Dubrovnik's walled city has served as the backdrop for George R. R. Martin's own walled city, King's Landing in Game of Thrones television series, with several scenes filmed on location. There are tourist attractions throughout the city celebrating this fact, including a reproduction of the Iron Throne and an opportunity to dress up and take pictures with a life-sized dragon.
In a fantasy campaign, these walls can serve as a powerful symbol of defense and security, but also of the isolation and tension that comes with living in a fortress city.
Modern Medicine
Dubrovnik was one of the first cities to use quarantine to protect it from plague. The two-week quarantine required visitors to be housed outside the city walls before entering, a key factor in keeping the closely-spaced population safe (to see how bad this can go in a walled city, see the plagues of Edinburgh).But quarantine was just one of Dubrovnik's medical innovations. The city had medical services as early as 1300, with the first pharmacy (still operating to this day!) opening soon after. Other innovations include an almshouse and orphanage.
In a fantasy campaign, a Dubrovnik-inspired city might be a center of healing and alchemical knowledge for clerics and druids.
Relics
Dubrovnik's most beloved church is dedicate to St. Blaise, built in the 18th century in honor their patron saint. The Baroque Cathedral houses an enormous treasury filled with the Saint's relics. Seeing this for the first time as a tourist is quite the experience; it's wall-to-wall gilded body parts in a vault.St. Blaise’s relics in Dubrovnik include parts of his skull, a right hand, and a number of other smaller body parts. These are displayed during the city's annual feast in his honor, on February 3rd, and are carried in procession through the streets, believed to provide protection and blessings to the city and its inhabitants.
In addition to those of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik's treasury holds: the arm of St. Stephen, believed to be the first Christian martyr; a piece of the True Cross; and various bones, teeth, and other body parts of saints, each with its own story and significance (photos are not allowed of the treasury, the items pictured above are displayed in the pharmacological museum).
In a fantasy campaign, these numerous relics might be lent to powerful characters in times of need. They were considered key to protecting Dubrovnik itself and also attributed healing powers.
Dubrovnik in Your Campaign
By drawing on Dubrovnik's rich history, unique cultural heritage, and the real-world locations that inspired modern fantasy, you can create a fantasy campaign setting that is both historically-grounded and filled with endless possibilities for adventure. Whether your players are defending the city's walls, searching for rare medicinal herbs, or uncovering the mysteries of ancient relics, Dubrovnik offers a template for a thriving fantasy walled city.Other Sources of Inspiration
As I travel on vacation I do my best to document the experience and how I might use it as inspiration for my games. Here's where I've been so far:- Appalachian Trail
- Bari
- Corfu
- Dubrovnik
- Edinburgh
- Venice
- Zakynthos
