The real boom in naturist holidays started in the 1960s when many naturist camps and facilities were opened in Istria and Dalmatia. Over 100,000 holidaymakers enjoyed these holidays annually.

At present, these holidays in Croatia are not as popular as they once were due to competition from other European countries, in which similar facilities have been created. Nevertheless, thousands and thousands of naturists still come to Croatia to enjoy the beautiful country and to have a peaceful holiday.

Marin Getaldić caused real awe in his fellow- citizens with his experiments with parabolic mirrors he performed in the cave of St. James, named “Bete`s cave” after his own nickname. The mirrors destroyed metals, lead and silver alike, at a distance. The stories have it that Getaldić put in danger the ships sailing in the vicinity. One such mirror, two meters in diameter, is displayed at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

During his lifetime, Marin Getaldić (1568-1626) enjoyed high esteem and glory all over Europe for his numerous scientific works. The Dubrovnik Republic, however, preferred practical to theoretical discoveries, so Getaldić had to earn his living as a notary and public servant. In his letters to his contemporaries elsewhere, he complained about his government’s negligence concerning the progress of basic theoretical disciplines. His family lived in a house at St. James, right above a large cave (later named after Martins nickname). In the 17th century, the cave was the source of real awe to Dubrovniker`s. His experiments with parabolic mirrors destroyed metals at a large distance, and traditions have it that Getaldić even set some ships on fire. Among his historic achievements in his pioneer use of some sort of hydrostatic scales for scientific purpose, and made his calculations on the relative weight of eleven matters: gold, mercury, lead, silver, copper, tin, honey, wine, wax and oil, He collaborated and corresponded with the most reputable scientists in England, Italy, France and Belgium., like Francois Viete and Galileo Galilei. Between 1603 and 1607, he published five works. One of his most important treaties “De resolutione et compositionem mathematica” was published after his death (1630).

Getaldić was a reputable councilor of the Minor and Mayor councils, took part in diplomatic missions of the republic, was its envoy to Istanbul, was a friend to pope Urban VIII who supported the publication of his works. In 1604 he was assigned the fortification and restoration of the Podzvizd Fort in Ston. Venetian scientist Paolo Scarpi qualified Getaldić, the great mathematician and physicist, as ” a devil in mathematics, an angel in heart.

Ruđer Bošković, one of the greatest scholars of his time, was born in Dubrovnik on May 18, 1711. At 14, after an education at the Jesuit college in Dubrovnik (Collegium Ragusinum), he went to Rome to pursue his studies with the Jesuits there. Before departing for France and England in 1759, a professor of Physics and Mathematics, he taught at the Jesuit schools in Fermo and Rome. At his most prolific years, he published some 40 treatises and prepared his most relevant works on natural philosophy. Some of his papers deal with issues on light, on the law of continuity, and on the laws of natural powers. Bošković also made his name when he measured the two meridian degrees in the Papal State by using apparatus and gauging he himself improved. Traveling extensively throughout Europe, he stooped in Paris and Vienna, where he published his most important work on Philosophiae maturalis theoria redacta ad unicam legem virium in Natura existentium (known under a shorter title as A Theory of Natural Philosophy). In London he studied lunar and solar eclipses. A tempest prevented his ship from arriving in Istanbul from Venice in time to observe the passage of Venus by the Sun - disembarked at the islet of Tened, he studied the ruins of Troy instead. From Istanbul, having missed the desired experience of an unusual encounter of the planets, he set of to Bulgaria, then to Moldavia and then to Poland, the voyage minutely described in his diary.

In 1770 he moved to Milan to reach at the new department of astronomy and optics, but having failed the appointment to the director of the observatory in which he had invested his own money and time, disillusioned, he moved to Venice. Though away almost all his lifetime, Bošković never lost his links with Dubrovnik, maintained especially through a regular correspondence with his elder brother Baro and sister Anica. He never stopped to care for the welfare of his native town. And was always ready to answer requests by the Dubrovnik Senate and to assist in diplomatic and political issues. Reflecting upon a return home, yet incessantly busy, he went to Milan to prepare for the publication of his five-volume work “Pieces from Optics and Astronomy “, where he died in 1787.
Ruđer Bošković was not only a scholar, but, to the fashion of his time, a Latin poet too. His poetic versatility shines in De solis ac Lunae defectubis, describing abstract astronomic theories in easy-flowing, elegant hexameters. He was a fellow of the Roman Arcadia that published his poetry in its editions.

In his lifetime he was a personality of high esteem in European scientific circles. However, only recent times have defined just how much Bošković was ahead of his time and, in many things, a precursor of scientific achievements. Ruđer Bošković, one of the most famous Dubrovnikers of all times, excelled with an intellect, imagination and intuition that have left traces in the history of European science.

The most recognized representatives of the Dubrovnik Painting School were Lovro Dobričević and his son Vicko Dobričević (Vicko Lovrin), Nikola Božidarević (the son of the painter Božidar Vlatković) and Mihajlo Hamzić.

From Lovro Dobričević, 15th century, three works are preserved: the Poliptih in the Dominican Monastery, Poliptih in the St. Mary church on Danče and parts of the Poliptih (St. Blaise portrait) in the Franciscan monastery, all in Dubrovnik.

From Blaž Jurjev Trogiranin, 15th century, there is the painting of Madonna in the St. Durđa church on Boninovo and a painted crucifixion in the Franciscan monastery in Ston.

From Ivan Ugrinović, 15th century, only the Poliptih in St. Antun church on island Koločep is preserved.

From Vicko Dobričević, 16th century, only the Poliptih in the Franciscan monastery in Cavtat is preserved.

From Mihajlo Hamzić, 16th century, who was educated by Andrea Mantegne in Italy, only two pieces of art are preserved; The baptism of Christ in Rectors Palace and the Triptih Lukarević
in the Dominican monastery in Dubrovnik.

From Nikola Božidarević, regarded by many as the greatest talent among these painters, only four pieces of art are preserved; the Triptih Bundić, the paintings Navještenje and Sacra conversacione ( all three located in the Dominican monastery), and the Poliptih in St. Mary church on Danče, his last and, by many, most beautiful work. (Danče is the name for a small part of Dubrovnik located just outside the city walls where the church is located)

The sudden death of these painters, that happened from 1517 till 1520 marks the drastic end of a great era of the Dubrovnik painting school, an era that enriched the cultural heritage of the world.

Dubrovnik, as one the centers of art on the Mediterranean, had already in the 14th century many foreign masters working in it, mainly from Italy. They were all invited by the government of Dubrovnik to paint on the churches and other monuments in Dubrovnik.

Ivan Gundulić, the greatest Croatian 17th century writer, predicted the downfall of the great Turkish Empire in his great poem Osman. As freedom was regarded as the greatest value to Dubrovnik, he wrote these immortal verses that are performed till today on every opening of the world famous Dubrovnik Summer Festival:
” O you beautiful, o you dear, o you sweet freedom… all the silver, all the gold, all human lives, can not pay for your pure beauty…”.

Many other poets and writers, among them Marin Držić and Ivo Vojnović created numerous works about the glory and everyday life of Dubrovnik. Their literature still lives and is very relevant even today. Don’t miss to experience the plays; many of them are performed during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

Other famous citizens of Dubrovnik include the painter Vlaho Bukovac, the mathematician and astronomer Marin Getaldić , the composer and author of the Croatian first symphony Luka Sorkočević and the scientist Ruđer Bošković.

Ivan Gundulić, the greatest Croatian 17th century writer, predicted the downfall of the great Turkish Empire in his great poem Osman. Many other poets and writers, among them Marin Držić and Ivo Vojnović created numerous works about the glory and everyday life of Dubrovnik. Their literature still lives and is very relevant even today. Don’t miss to experience the plays; many of them are performed during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Other famous citizens of Dubrovnik include the painter Vlaho Bukovac, the mathematician and astronomer Marin Getaldić , the composer and author of the Croatian first symphony Luka Sorkočević and the scientist Ruđer Bošković.