Trsteno Arboretum

As the oldest arboretum in this part of the world, the Trsteno Arboretum rightfully is one of Dubrovnik’s top tourist attractions. It was built by the wealthy and powerful Gozze family in the late 15th century to house the plants and seeds they brought back from their travels – which, for irrigation purposes, required the construction of a 15-meter long aqueduct that is still in use to this day. The 255,000 m2 that form the arboretum feature the family’s splendid 15th century Renaissance summer residence and several lush parks comprising colorful flowers and exotic trees. They also house a stunning belvedere pavilion that overlooks the Dalmatian coast and the Adriatic Sea, as well as a massive Baroque fountain of Neptune and his nymphs dating back from 1736.The two most popular sights at the arboretum are the gigantic, 500-years-old, 60-meters tall, and 5-meters wide Oriental plane trees that form the entrance gate (the only specimens in Europe).

Practical Info

A protected area since 1962, the parks were unfortunately looted and damaged quite extensively during the Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990s, and even suffered a major forest fire in the year 2000. Later on, Trsteno Arboretum was used as the setting of the Red Keep palace gardens in King's Landing in the third season and fourth season of the television series Game of Thrones.