This anniversary exhibition serves as a reminder of Dubrovnik’s exceptionally rich shipbuilding heritage, which at certain periods attained international prominence. Without the naves, carracks, and galleons constructed on the slipways of the Dubrovnik region, it would be impossible to imagine the maritime and commercial expansion of the Republic of Dubrovnik during the sixteenth century. The Dubrovnik school of shipbuilding transcends national boundaries and may rightfully be regarded as part of the shared heritage of humankind.
The exhibition is conceived as a journey through the history of Dubrovnik shipbuilding, from the late Middle Ages to the end of the nineteenth century. At the same time, it illustrates the transformation of the Gruž area, which gradually lost its role as a centre of shipbuilding in the late nineteenth century and evolved into a modern port.