Orašac, Croatia
Orašac (Italian: Valdinoce) is a village in southern Croatia, northwest of Dubrovnik, between Trsteno and Zaton. It is located in the Dubrovačko Primorje (Dubrovnik littoral).
This village was founded around AD 1040. In the centre of the town the houses are built close to each other. This once was a means of protection from the Neretva pirates.
There are many old churches (such as the St Nicholas church build in 1250) and chapels, including the Arapovo castle, where the chief magistrate of Florence, the gonfalonier Piero Soderini is believed to have stayed, before he left for Florence in 1512.
Six villages are scattered in the surrounding area. The main road in Orašac leads inland to villages of Gromača, Kliševo, Ljubač and others located in the hills. Gromača is known for its cave and traditional ecological tourism.
Ljubač is located in a valley between three hills which forms an astonishing natural amphitheatre. In these villages there are farmers who produce homemade goat cheese and wine. The roads of these villages lead for 25 km through the inland until you end up in Slano.
During the homeland war (1991–1995) the large hotel complex Dubrovački vrtovi sunca was destroyed and was recently reopened.
Coordinates: 42°42′07″N 18°00′24″E / 42.70194°N 18.00667°E
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