Rector's Palace stands near Dubrovnik Cathedral in the heart of the Old Town, its arcaded facade blending Gothic and Renaissance details. It was the seat of government in the Republic of Ragusa and the residence of its elected rector, whose one-month term was designed to keep any individual from accumulating too much power.
The palace was rebuilt after gunpowder explosions and an earthquake, leaving a building with layers of architectural history. Today it houses Dubrovnik's Cultural History Museum, where period furniture, portraits, coins and weapons offer a glimpse of the republic's civic and domestic life. The open stone atrium is a highlight, and its acoustics make it an atmospheric setting for concerts during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
Allow time for the upper rooms rather than stopping only for a photograph of the facade. Visit in the morning to get ahead of the busiest cruise-ship crowds, and pair the palace with the cathedral next door. If you hope to hear a concert in the atrium, check the festival programme in advance.