Bites and sites Lopud food tour

The Franciscan monastery hides many exciting stories which shaped the life of the islanders. It was a center of island defense against pirates, a place where friars developed elixir for long life and a secret garden’s home.

We’ll stroll down the promenade to the old building, former Hotel Pracat, built on top of a 9th-century chapel. Many intriguing legends have been formed around the hotel. It’s a great stop to have a chat about life on Lopud during Yugoslavia.

The next stop is Lopud square in front of the museum, which unfortunately hasn’t been open to the public since the Homeland War. However, the story around the museum and the square on which it stands is a curious one. It will take you through time to golden Dubrovnik Republic times when Lopud was famous for shipbuilding and trading, wine and olive oil production, fishing, and crafts. You’ll also learn how to use an old sun clock, which may come handy if all the clocks on the island suddenly stop or you want to impress a special someone.

As we stroll further along the promenade, you’ll hear stories of not only the past but equally exciting present life. Absorb the atmosphere and discover how locals enjoy their feel-good lifestyle and long coffee breaks on the central waterfront. It will take us to 17th century St. Hieronymus chapel, which is a prime example of how the wealthy Lopud inhabitants spent their money.

Miho Pracat, one of the greatest islanders until this day, built this church. He lived an exciting life as an adventurer and donated his wealth to Lopud and Dubrovnik Republic. There are many stories and fascinating legends about him that we will walkthrough. The church itself still plays a role in the life of Catholics on Lopud Island.

Our next stop is the marvelous church of St Nicolas. You will discover that it is not only a piece of art but also a place where the most famous islanders read the very first book and acquired skills to navigate the sea.

We will unravel the astonishing story about the Grand Hotel. It assemblages a dash of impressive architectural innovation, controversial story of WWII, and causes of today’s decaying condition. At the same time, it will come to light its influence on the islander’s everyday life.

We will spend an evening in the family atmosphere discovering exciting palette of local flavors on a typical family farm. All ingredients are organic and come directly from farm. Being born and bred on the island, your hosts, now grandparents, also have many exciting stories to tell.