LovranQR

Lovran Old Town

Lovran Old Town is one of five medieval Liburnian communes. In contrast to the other four, which were located on high ground, it was the only one with an exit to the sea. The name of the town is first mentioned, as Lauriana, in the text Cosmographia by Anonimo Ravennate, between late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

The medieval structure of the town has been preserved up to the present day. It is, first and foremost, strongly marked by the clear outline of the town walls, which had a decisive role as the town itself is very close to sea level, which made it harder to defend from attackers from sea and from land. The system of fortifications was built between the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance period, but the town walls are poorly preserved because of the turbulent history of Lovran and later house building. In the southern part of the wall one can still see two preserved loopholes. The entrance to the town was probably through four town gates, and today the only gate to survive is Stubica, the ‘sea gate’, which leads to the town's small harbour (known locally as mandrać). The old town is made up of a network of narrow streets, and simple habitations of folk character without particular architectural style, with inner courtyards (cortiles), covered arches, and many passages under the houses. The most important part of the town, and the centre of social activity, is the town square, St. George’s, with the parish church of St. George, the tower of rectangular design, and the town hall.

Lovran’s urban landscape was finally defined in 17th and 18th centuries. This was when the building of Baroque grand houses began, which have more pronounced dimensions, with more distinctive stylistic details and more luxurious facades.