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Stubica - the Town’s East Gate

"Stubica" the Town’s East Gate

'Stubica' is the only remaining town gate preserved in its original shape. In the past, this gate used to provide access to Lovran's harbour (known locally as mandrać) on the southeast section of the defence walls of the old town. This was the main entrance to the town for everyone who approached Lovran from the sea.

Reportedly many of these newcomers used to stroke two embossed crosses placed in the gate when entering the town. The gate itself consists of two portals, the inner and the outer. The outer portal is Renaissance in shape, with its arch made of massive stone blocks, and it can be seen in a veduta by J. W. Valvasor from the year 1689. The gate is wider on the inner part, which was probably designed during the construction itself, in order that carriages entering the town could turn to either side more easily. This irregular shape created a high and spacious arch, which made a passage through the town’s defence wall. Apart from the gate, this part of the fortification once also included a tower, which defended this sea approach to the old town. In front of this gate, as with the main land-facing gate, a hackberry tree was planted (in 1922 it was replaced with horse chestnut). In the shade of this tree the old would sit and talk on benches while observing activities in this busy part of the town, which was located between the entrance to the old town, the town’s harbour and the former cemetery.

Trivia

For the good fortune of those entering and leaving the city, the custom of stroking the stone block on the side remains to this day.