Dubrovnik, Croatia: Stradun

Here's the main drag of Dubrovnik, even if people would be calling it that for centuries after its completion. It's the center of activity within the walled city, stretching 300 meters. The area used to be marshland and divided two regions. The land was filled in and became the main thoroughfare, made out of limestone.

A highlight certainly is the Bell Tower, which you can see at the end of the street. It's 31 meters high and dates back to 1444, which means we're coming up on 600 years. It did receive a good-sized renovation in 1929. The rest of the street didn't do so well during the 1666 earthquake, and when the rebuilding took place new rules were made to make the structures more uniform. 

This area received some damage from shelling during the Homeland Wars of the early 1990s. However, it all was quickly repaired. Believe it or not, John McEnroe and Goran Ivanisevic had a tennis match here in 2010 before about 600 people and an international television audience. Wonder how the bounces were.   

As for the street, the inevitable souvenir stores are here for shopping pleasure. Other stores, such as restaurant and banks, also are placed here along with some more official businesses.