Ploče Gate – The Eastern Entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town
The Ploče Gate (Vrata od Ploča) is the main eastern entrance to Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, connecting the city to the Ploče suburb from which it takes its name.
The Ploče Gate complex was developed gradually between the 14th and 16th centuries, a period when Dubrovnik was actively strengthening its defensive infrastructure to protect its commercial and political stability. Overland communication with the outside world was maintained through two main, heavily fortified city gates—one located on the west (Pile Gate) and the other on the east (Ploče Gate). (The Buža Gate on the northern side of the city walls was breached much later, in the early 20th century.)
The Ploče Gate was constructed following the same architectural layout as the Pile Gate: featuring an inner and outer gate, a stone bridge spanning a moat, and a wooden drawbridge. The gate is protected by the freestanding Revelin Fortress, with entry into the city organized through multiple sequential checkpoints: bridges, a moat, and double gates. This multi-layered structure provided an effective defense while ensuring a controlled flow of people and goods into the eastern side of the city and its harbor.
The Old Ploče Gate – Romanesque Phase
The oldest section of the complex is the Old Ploče Gate, located within the main city wall next to the Asimon bastion. Built in the early 14th century in the Romanesque style, its decorative elements are particularly noteworthy:
- Outer side: Features a head of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik.
- Inner side: Features a carved figurehead (pulena) of a mermaid, a motif taken from the bows of medieval ships.
This gate remained in active use until the mid-15th century, after which it was superseded by newer defensive structures.
The Inner Gate and Bridge – Renaissance Phase
The Inner Ploče Gate was built in 1450 based on designs by Simeon della Cava. It is situated in the wall connecting the Asimon tower to the main city walls.
It originally bore a defensive inscription celebrating the city’s safety under the protection of Saint Blaise:
“Keep far away, ye savages! For centuries, this fortress fears no war, warmed by the breath of the holy old man.”
This inscription was removed during 19th-century renovations when the Austrian authorities widened the passage to accommodate vehicular traffic.
The inner bridge, built in 1449, was crafted by local stonemasons:
- Đuro Utišenović
- Radoje Grubačević
- Radosav Radomanović
- Vlađo Bogojevića
The bridge was originally similar to the one at the Pile Gate, but it was later modified during modernizations.
The Outer Gate, Bridge, and Revelin Fortress
Built in 1466, the Outer Ploče Gate is located in a separate fortification along the southeastern corner of Revelin Fortress. It was also known as the Revelin Gate. Its defense system included heavy wooden doors and a portcullis (saracineska)—an iron lattice gate that could be raised and lowered. In the 16th century, during the construction of the larger Revelin Fortress, the gate was rebuilt while preserving the portcullis mechanism.
The Outer Ploče Bridge was erected in 1479 according to designs by Paskoje Miličević, concurrent with the excavation of the defensive moat. Miličević also designed the bridges at the Pile Gate, explaining the strong architectural similarities between the two entrances.
In front of the bridge stood a barbican—a rounded protective wall with an iron-grated gate—and beyond it lay a glacis: a broad, open sloped area extending toward the harbor. Cannons stationed on this field defended the port from potential attacks.
The Mermaid at the City Gate
The figurehead (pulena) depicting a mermaid built into the Old Gate serves as a tribute to Dubrovnik’s rich maritime traditions. Ship figureheads were common naval decorations, and here it symbolically binds the walled city to the sea.
The Keys to the City
Smaller postern doors were carved into the massive wooden gates at both Pile and Ploče. Each entrance had two sets of keys—one for the main double gates and one for the smaller postern door. The smaller door was opened only under exceptional circumstances, such as urgent or unannounced visits, primarily at night when the main gates were locked.
The city gates were strictly guarded, and the keys to both the Pile and Ploče gates were held personally by the Rector of Dubrovnik (Knez). Every morning, he handed them to the guards to open the main gates, and every evening, once the gates were locked, they were returned to the Rector for safekeeping.
Replicas of the historical keys to the Pile and Ploče gates are currently on display in the permanent collection of the Cultural History Museum inside the Rector’s Palace.
Nearby Landmarks
Located right near the Ploče Gate:
- The eastern entrance to the City Walls of Dubrovnik
- Revelin Fortress
- Stradun (Placa) – Dubrovnik’s main limestone promenade
Location
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a stunning coastal city in southern Croatia, known for its beautiful architecture and rich history. The city’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its impressive walls, cobblestone streets, and Baroque buildings.
ExploreGothic
Gothic appeared relatively late in Croatia. In addition to the 13th and 14th centuries, as long as it lasted in Europe, its influence is also visible in the 15th and 16th centuries – for example, on the Trogir and Sibenik cathedrals. Also on the territory of Croatia, you can often see admixtures of Romanesque and Renaissance in Gothic buildings. Gothic influence from European countries adapted to its possibilities and needs and thus created a “domestic artistic expression”. This mixture of styles is most pronounced in Dalmatia. The northern regions were exposed to the influences of Central Europe, while the coastal regions tied their artistic expression to Italian models.
ExploreRenaissance
In the 15th century, Croatia was divided between three states – northern Croatia was a part of the Austrian Empire, Dalmatia was under the rule of the Venetian Republic (with the exception of Dubrovnik), and Slavonia was under Ottoman occupation. Dalmatia was on the periphery of several influences, equidistant from Italy, Ottoman Bosnia, and Austria, so it drew influence from all. In those circumstances in Dalmatia flourished religious and public architecture with clear influences of the Italian Renaissance, but still original.
ExploreRomanesque
In the 11th century, monumental cities were built along the entire Dalmatian coast. Houses were constructed from stone. On the ground floor there were shops or taverns (natively – konoba), seen today in cities such as Poreč, Rab, Zadar, Trogir, and Split. In those cities the most important buildings were churches. They were commonly stone-built basilicas with three naves, three apses, columns, arches, arcades and wooden roofs, and were erected near the monasteries of Benedictine monks who came out of Italy. St. Peter in Supetarska Draga on the island of Rab (11th century) is the best-preserved church of that type in Croatia. On the same island is the Cathedral of Rab (12th century) has a high-Romanesque bell tower, the largest in Dalmatia. It is specific with its openings, which multiply with each level of floor (Latin: mono-fore, bi-fore, tri-fore, quadro-fore). This is typical for Romanesque architecture, but also architecturally innovative, as each floor is slightly lighter than the one below.
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