Parking at Park Orsula is very limited and usually fills up early in the evening. For this reason, many visitors choose to arrive on foot via the historic caravan trail that connects old Hotel Belvedere and Park Orsula.
To make this route safe and comfortable for our audience, we have restored and illuminated this beautiful old path, historically known as the Vecchia Strada Litorale. Today it offers a pleasant and scenic walk to the venue, surrounded by nature and overlooking the Adriatic coast.
The walk from Belvedere to the stage takes around 7–10 minutes, and the path itself is approximately 600 metres long. Taking a taxi to Belvedere is often faster and more convenient than travelling along the main coastal road, especially on concert nights.
Choosing this route is not only practical. It is also a small journey through the history of Dubrovnik.
During the time of the Republic of Ragusa, this road represented the only land approach to the city. From all other directions Dubrovnik was accessible only by sea. For centuries merchants, diplomats and travellers coming from the Ottoman Empire, from Bosnia and from the wider Balkan hinterland entered the city along this very route. Trade caravans carrying goods, salt, fabrics and precious materials once passed along the same path that visitors walk today.
Along this road stands the small Church of St. Orsula, built in a carefully chosen position. Travellers approaching the city would not see Dubrovnik at all until they reached the point beside the church. Only then would the view suddenly open, revealing the city for the first time. When leaving Dubrovnik the experience was reversed. Once the traveller passed the church, the city disappeared from sight behind them.
Today this same path leads visitors to Park Orsula. What was once the entrance to a great maritime republic has become a unique arrival to one of the most beautiful open air stages.
