Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a city in the south of Croatia. It is known as the pearl of the Adriatic. 
From 14th century until 1808 it is governed as a free country - the Republic of Ragusa. The city reached its peak in the 15th-16th century when it was one of the largest competitors of Venice and Genoa in trade in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1806 Dubrovnik was captured by the French and two years later became part of the Illyrian provinces of France. 
The old town of Dubrovnik is very well preserved. Surrounded by a fortress wall up to 25 m high, it is more than possible to walk around the whole city, opening magnificent views of the sea and the neighboring islands of Lokrum and Lapad. 
The sightseeing which definitely worth visiting and seeing in Dubrovnik are: the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, the Prince's Palace, the Onofrio's Fountain and the Church of St. Vlah - the saint who was the defender of the city, on the central Stradun Street, the Minceta Tower and much more. An interesting fact is that the Republic of Dubrovnik was the first country which admit the independence of the United States.