Page 34 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2019 PORTUGAL

houses that line the Placa were erected in Dubrovnik as a vital trading partner. How‐
1667 after a devastating earthquake. This ever, the Crusaders' sacking of Constantino‐
unique architecture has become one of ple weakened the Byzantine Empire, leaving
Dubrovnik's most cherished hallmarks. Dubrovnik more vulnerable. It wasn't until
Walking the streets, we couldn't help but 1358 that Louis I of Hungary liberated the
notice similarities between some buildings city from Venetian rule, granting it indepen‐
and those we had encountered in Venice just dence under his protection.
a few days earlier. That's not surprising con‐ In Dubrovnik, every building tells a tale.
sidering the Venetians had a hand in con‐ Our guide shared the story of the Church of
structing them. For over a century, the Saint Blaise, a Baroque-style marvel con‐
Venetians sought control of the city, finally structed in 1714 on the site of a 14th-century
succeeding in the early 13th century. Before Romanesque church damaged during the
that, the Byzantines had safeguarded 1667 earthquake. The church is dedicated to

34 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER/SPRING 2024