Plan your Travels to Ston
Ston in Croatia is worth a visit, just 54 km from Dubrovnik and you are witnessing the idyllic countryside of Croatia. Stop in for a short while on the way to the wine region of the Peljesac Peninsula.
The Ston area on the Pelješac peninsula came into possession of the Republic of Dubrovnik in the 14th century, where planned construction of the towns Ston and Mali Ston began, with connecting walls. The goal was to protect the people and saltern, a factory for the then “white gold,” from which the Republic abundantly profited. With a total length of 5.5km the Ston walls were fortified with around 40 towers and 5 fortresses.
Trip to Ston FAQs
What is the best time to visit Ston
The best months for good weather in Ston are April, May, June, July, August, September and October. On average, the warmest months are July and August.
From
Matilda Your Croatia Expert
What are the essential sights to see in Ston?
It is famous for the Walls of Ston (unlike the Walls of Dubrovnik which are enclosed) they are known as the “European Walls of China”, the Salt Works and its mussels.
The Walls of Ston
As we rounded a bend in the road our eyes were drawn to a huge wall! A huge wall that looked very similar to the Great Wall of China. We could not believe what we were seeing. A wall that was planned and first started construction in 1333 by the Republic of Dubrovnik who had bought the Peljesac Peninsula from Dusan the Serbian Emperor. The 5.5km wall connected the two towns Ston and Mali Ston, and their purpose was to defend these two towns, be the first line of defence for Dubrovnik and to protect their precious salt industry which contributed to the wealth of Dubrovnik.
The walls are 2nd to the Great Wall of China in length. The walls in sections range from between 5 and 10 metres high. Can you believe it took almost 4 centuries to complete?
The site of Kings Landing in Games of Thrones used Ston in many of its scenes because of the Walls.
The Salt Works of Ston
Opposite the town of Ston lies the Salt Works. Salt has been in production in Ston for over 2,000 years and it is the oldest salt works still operating in Europe. Salt was extremely important to the Republic of Dubrovnik providing 1/3 of its revenue back in the 14th century. Salt was just as important as gold and during those times 1kg salt = 1kg gold.
Today there are 53 pools – 9 of which are the crystallisation pools that are named after Saints, you will find the name of the Saint written on stone and placed beside each pool. #53 pool is named ‘Mundo’meaning world in Spanish and the salt harvested from this pool was passed onto the poor.
The storage for the salt was at the rear of the ponds, there were 2 keys to open the doors of the storage, as it was so valuable the salt was under guard 24 hours a day. If you were tempted to steal salt the punishment was the loss of your hand.
The Town of Ston
Ston is the gateway to the Peljesac Peninsula and Korcula Island. A medieval town of narrow streets and noble houses with the Bishops Palace constructed in the Renaissance style that dates back to the 16th century. Mali Ston which is 1km away is famous for its oysters. The sweetest strawberries come from around Ston.
