Looming above the city of Dubrovnik to the north is the grey-green escarpment of Mount Srđ, the 412-metre-high ridge that shelters the city from the harsh winter winds.

Offering spectacular views of the city and the surrounding coast, it is reached by an exhilarating cablecar ride, which departs from just outside the Old Town, or via a winding path known as the serpentina, which takes anything between 60-90 minutes to climb.

Summit

The summit of Srđ is backed by a stony plateau covered in wild sage and criss-crossed by farm tracks and paths – perfect for relaxed hiking in spring and autumn. Occupying a commanding position on the ridge is Tvrđava Imperial, a fortress built by the Napoleonic French and subsequently held tenaciously by Dubrovnik’s defenders during the war of 1991-95. The fortress’s stark interior holds the Museum of the Homeland War which displays photographs and weaponry from the conflict.