Cavtat

{{main|Epidaurum}}

The original city was founded by the Greeks settlers from Corinth{{cite book |last=Cabanes |first=Pierre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bO55DwAAQBAJ |title=Greek Colonisation: An Account of Greek Colonies and Other Settlements Overseas |publisher=Brill |year=2008 |isbn=9789047442448 |editor-last=Tsetskhladze |editor-first=Gocha R. |editor-link=Gocha R. Tsetskhladze |volume=2 |pages=271 |chapter=Greek Colonisation in the Adriatic}} in the 6th century BC under the name of Epidaurus (or Epidauros, {{langx|el|Ἐπίδαυρος}}).Aulus Hirtius, De Bello Alexandrino XIVAustria: Her People & Their Homelands by James Baker,""... dates back to the sixth century BC., when the Greeks founded here Epidaurus" The surrounding area was inhabited by the Illyrians, who called the city Zaptal.[https://books.google.com/books?id=_sYPAAAAYAAJ&dq=Zaptal+Illyrian+town&pg=PA840 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography:] Abacaenum-Hytanis. 1854 by Sir William Smith

The town changed its name to Epidaurum when it came under Roman rule in 228 BC. Justinian I the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire sent his fleet to Cavtat during the Gothic War (535–554)Ostrogoths were at war with Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. and occupied the town.

File:Cavtat3.JPG

The city was sacked and destroyed by the Avars and Slavs in the 7th century.[https://books.google.com/books?id=fATxz5DB5BUC&dq=Epidaurus+dalmatia&pg=PA247 Researches on the Danube and the Adriatic] by Andrew Archibald Paton (1861). Contributions to the Modern History of Hungary and Transylvania, Dalmatia and Croatia, Servia and Bulgaria- page 247 Refugees from Epidaurum fled to the nearby island, Laus (Ragusa) which over time evolved into the city of Dubrovnik.[https://books.google.com/books?id=_AVXTXJeKiIC&dq=Epidaurus+dalmatia&pg=PA275 Dalmatia and Montenegro] by Sir John Gardner Wilkinson

The town was re-established in the Middle Ages ({{langx|it|Ragusa Vecchia}}).Notizie Istorico-Critiche Sulla Antichita, Storia, e Letteratura de' Ragusei (published in two vols) by Francesco Maria Appendini.[https://books.google.com/books?id=tKADAAAAYAAJ&q=Ragusa-Vecchia&pg=PA186 The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge] Volume 3, Part 1. 1843. Great Britain After a short while it came under the control of its powerful neighbor, the Republic of Ragusa.

The modern Croatian name for the city reveals its ancient origins and its link with Dubrovnik. Cavtat is derived from {{lang|la|Civitas Vetus}}, which means old city in Latin Language.

On 13 May 2021, a waterspout of intensity IF0 made landfall just south of Cavtat.{{cite web |date=2021-05-13 |first1=Mario |last1=Sekulić |first2=Igor |last2=Laskowski |title=Tornado: Fabci |url=https://eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi |website=European Severe Weather Database}}

Today, Cavtat is a popular tourist destination with many hotels and private households that rent rooms and apartments. The seafront is filled with shops and restaurants. There are several beaches in Cavtat and its surroundings, among them Pasjača, as well as Ključice, Obod, Rat and Žal. A ferry boat connects the town to neighbouring Mlini and Dubrovnik. There are often many private luxury ships and yachts along the strand.

It was named most popular honeymoon destination in Europe for 2023 by European Best Destinations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/best-of-europe/best-honeymoon-destinations-in-europe/|title=Best honeymoon destinations in Europe|publisher=European Best Destinations|access-date=11 June 2023}}

File:Cavtat Mausoleum Racic.JPG

The town cemetery on the hill contains a mausoleum belonging to the Račić family and decorated by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović.

In year 2004 Cavtat got the title European Competition for Towns and Villages in Blooms, especially for the well-tended green areas and flower arrangements on the beach promenade.Bronze plaque on the promenade, photographed in June 2017.

The Epidaurus Festival of Music{{cite web|url=http://www.epidaurusfestival.com/ |title=Cavtat - 2012 |publisher=Epidaurus festival |date=2012-06-15 |access-date=2013-03-26}} has been held annually in Cavtat since 2007.

File:4.1.17 4 Cavtat 06 (31956882922).jpg in Cavtat]]

• Vlaho Bukovac (1855–1922), painter
• Tino Pattiera (1890–1966), opera singer
• Luko Zore (1846–1906), philologist and Slavist
• Frano Supilo (1870–1917), politician
• Baltazar Bogišić (1834–1908), jurist, law historian and ethnologist
• Niko Koprivica (1889–1944), politician
• Dinko Zlatarić (1558–1613), poet and translator
• Raimondo Cunich (1719–1794), humanist
• Ljudevit Vuličević (1839–1916), Serbian writer and patriot

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Croatia}}

Cavtat is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|POL}} Bochnia, Poland
• {{Flagicon|USA}} Watsonville, California, USA{{Cite news|url=https://register-pajaronian.com/article/watsonville-forms-ties-with-croatian-city|title=Watsonville forms ties with Croatian city|work=Register-Pajaronian|access-date=2018-09-20}}

• Croatia
• Dubrovnik
• Dalmatia
• Republic of Ragusa
• Epidaurus

File:Cavtat, Croacia, 2014-04-19, DD 02.JPG|View from the harbour

File:Iglesia de San Nicolás, Cavtat, Croacia, 2014-04-19, DD 03.JPG|St Nicholas church

File:Cavtat, Croacia, 2014-04-19, DD 09.JPG|Shore at Cavtat

File:Cavtat, Croacia, 2014-04-19, DD 11.JPG|Harbour

File:Monasterio de Nuesra Señora de la Nieve, Cavtat, Croacia, 2014-04-19, DD 06.JPG|Monastery of Our Lady of the Snow

File:Cavtat, Croacia, 2014-04-19, DD 12.JPG|Town hall

File:Cavtat, Croatia - panoramio - Aleksandar Topuzović.jpg|The Hotel Croatia

File:Lignje na žaru - Konoba Toranj (14912816982).jpg|Fresh local cuisine

;Notes

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190729154756/http://www.villavidak.com/cavtat-info/ Cavtat Info], Villa Vidak: Cavtat Information
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190801190017/http://www.cavtatportal.com/ Cavtatportal.com], Up to date news from Cavtat and vicinity

{{Coord|42|34|46|N|18|13|15|E|region:HR_type:city(2015)|display=title}}

{{Konavle municipality}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Category:Populated coastal places in Croatia

Category:Populated places established in the 6th century BC

Category:Konavle