Rector’s Palace - business and social events in the heart of the former Republic of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one of the most attractive congress destinations in Croatia, and what makes it unique are its impressive historical sites that can be used as event spaces. Among the most important is the Rector’s Palace, the former administrative seat and residence of the Rector of the Republic of Dubrovnik. This sumptuous Gothic-Renaissance palace, or rather its atrium, is often chosen for the organization of cultural events, especially musical ones, because of its excellent acoustics.
The palace dates back to the first half of the 15th century, and was built on the remains of the medieval fort “castellum”. It was built according to the project of the Neapolitan builder Onofrio di Giordano della Cava, as a two-story building with four wings, corner towers, an inner courtyard and a porch on the front. The Rector’s Palace building has survived through a turbulent history and has suffered several severe damages from gunpowder explosions and earthquakes over the centuries. It suffered the most in the catastrophic earthquake of 1667. Numerous repairs and renovations also entailed some new construction styles, but an effort was always made to maintain the basic characteristics of Onofrio's project. Today, the Rector’s Palace is a one-story building with a porch and an atrium, in which the Gothic-Renaissance form is harmoniously combined with Baroque interventions.
Authentic ambience from the time of the Rectors of Dubrovnik
The Rector’s Palace houses the Cultural and Historical Museum of Dubrovnik Museums, which was opened to the public at this location in 1950. The Museum's collection consists of material of outstanding cultural-historical and artistic value, with about twenty thousand objects created in the time span from the middle of the 14th to the beginning of the 20th century. It is systematized in fifteen collections: paintings, graphics, furniture, textiles, ceramics and porcelain, metals, icons, glass, photographs and photographic material, documents, postcards, Ivo Vojnović, weapons and numismatics. This permanent exhibition of the museum in the Rector’s Palace presents an authentic space from the time of the Republic of Dubrovnik - from the state offices, courtroom and prison on the ground floor, to the chapel, representative salons and the duke's apartment with a study, a central area and a bedroom upstairs. The rich cultural, artistic and historical heritage of the Republic of Dubrovnik is represented by the presentation of works of art from the collections.
The exhibitions Dubrovnik money, medals, seals, coats of arms and measures, Armoury, Goldsmiths in Dubrovnik and Inventory of the state pharmacy "Domus Christi", presented in the mezzanine, complete the thematic determinants of the museum's permanent exhibition.
A monumental space for organizing events
The museum, with its rich permanent exhibition and guest exhibitions, is reason enough to visit this beautiful palace - whether as part of an incentive program, a city tour or some other additional social program of your business or professional meeting in Dubrovnik. However, if you want to especially inspire and impress your participants - organize a gala dinner, a reception or a musical evening in the Rector’s Palace! Give your participants a taste of the atmosphere from the reign of the rectors of the famous and rich Dubrovnik Republic.
The atrium of the Rector’s Palace can be rented for various social and business events, outside the opening hours of the Cultural and Historical Museum. The friendly staff of the museum is available for all arrangements regarding the space, while the implementation, technical organization, catering and other contents of the event are left to the organizer.
The atrium of the Rector's Palace can host up to 70 people, and the galleries can host up to 150 people, in a setting for a gala dinner, with tables. The atrium can host 200 to 250 people in a cocktail setting, and 250 to 300 seats can be accommodated in a conference or concert setting.