According to Rick Steve Dubrovnik's single best attraction is strolling the scenic mile-and-a-quarter around the City-Walls.

Basically, the old town is surrounded by a medieval city walls and several forts along the way. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to walk around the City walls. Once you up there it is a really easy stroll with on one side  the glittering Adriatic see and the red clay roofs of the old town on the other side.  Simply breathtaking!

There are three entry points to get to the City Walls. We are at the entrance near Pile Gate since our apartment is really close by and it is the closest entrance for us.

The weather called for rain, and we are also early, so there are barely anybody staying in line.  Look on the left and you see a steep flight of stairs leading to the City Walls.

Well, the rain came but does not stop up. Our journey begins....

The walls thickness varies according to where the builders perceived threats. On the landward side, the walls are 14 to 19 foot thick but on the seaward side only 3 to 9 foot thick. The height also varies according to the configuration of the terrain; in some places it reaches 82 foot.

This the view looking into the Old City-below us is the famous Onoforia fountain, right at the entrance of Pile gate.

See how narrow the walk way is so imagine it in the summer when the cruise ships drop off thousand of tourists here.  

I was told that it is so crowded that people would be rubbing elbows and the line is super long. 

Gorgeous roof top.  These are properly fairly new as they are still pretty bright orange.

Pile Gate, at the entrance of the Old City.

Then the walk descends to Fort Bokar and interestingly, under Austrian rule in the 19th century, it was used as a prison. It's one of the oldest buildings of its kind in Europe.

Protecting the old town and Pile Gate from attack by both sea and land, it was likely built in the 11th century and then strongly fortified at the beginning of the 14th century. It was so essential to the defense of the city that it was strengthened again in the 16th century.

These walls have been protecting Dubrovnik since the Middle-Ages, and have never fallen to a hostile power. They were constructed from the 12^th through the 17^th centuries, evolving gradually from wooden palisades to the massive fortifications seen today.

The walls connect the fortresses and towers that completely surround Dubrovnik, guarding the city from all sides.

Drizzling rain...

I am not sure if this area was bombed or it fell into ruin but it is now under construction.

Check out the rooftops.

Charming brick houses.

Really fantastic view from here!

Moving along...

Some part looks like going through a maze.  We are entering one of the fort along our way.

Defensive post.  It is blocked with a chain so people don't go over it.  The cliffs are dangerous!

Amazing view!

Lokrum island in the distance.

View inside the old city-bombed or falling into ruins?

Behind us is the Old City and you can also see Lokrun island on the left.

Cannon to defend the city.

This is another fort...

This is a really huge courtyard.

Next...City wall continuation