Buža Gate – The Northern Entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town

Compared to the city’s other gates, this entrance is relatively new, having been cut through the walls in 1907. It was created at a time when the city walls no longer served a defensive purpose.

The gate connects the northern part of Dubrovnik with the Old Town. From Buža Gate, a steep street runs straight down to Stradun (the main thoroughfare). This street is named after Ruđer Bošković—Croatia’s most prominent 18th-century scientist, physicist, astronomer, and poet—as it was his birthplace.

This entrance is particularly convenient if you park your car in the Iza Grada area or approach the town from Ilijina Glavica or Kono. However, keep in mind that accessing the Old Town through this route involves a lot of stairs.

What Does Buža Mean?

Buža is a coastal Croatian (Dalmatian/Istrian) dialect word of Venetian origin that means a hole, opening, or crack. It is most commonly used to refer to a hole in clothing (such as a hole in a sock), a gap in a wall, or even a very small, cramped room.