Climate

The geographical position of this region is typically Mediterranean with mild and wet winters, and hot and humid summers (2,600 hours of sunshine on average). The average annual precipitation is 1,250 mm, air temperature is 17? C, and summer sea temperature is 21? C. There are many sunny days during the winter months. The average summer air temperature is 25? C, made pleasant by the mild maestral wind - a messenger of good weather, while the bura and the jugo generally blow during the colder months.

Flora and Fauna

Our stunning coast is adorned with bays, beaches, steep sea cliffs and numerous wooded islands. The Dubrovnik region flora is characteristic of diversity and large quantity of cypress, pine and olive trees. There are many vineyards and citrus fruit plantations (lemons, oranges and tangerines). The hillsides and islands abound in aromatic herbs and flowers, but also in exotic plants such as palms, agaves and cactuses. In the renaissance gardens and parks of the Dubrovnik palaces and summer residences numerous plants from faraway countries were grown, which the captains of Dubrovnik used to bring from their voyages. A part of this plant wealth has been preserved in the Arboretums of Trsteno and Lokrum.

A bird species which became a symbol of Dubrovnik is the swift, more precisely, common swift (Apus apus, Linne 1758), a migratory bird widely present in the area. The prestigious Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) of Bonn appointed it the Bird of the Year 2003. Accomplished fliers with perfect aerial bodies, common swifts spend most of their life in the air, where they find food, mate, collect materials for their nests, and even occasionally sleep while flying. These migratory birds return to Dubrovnik quite late, usually in early April. Faithful to their native area, common swifts return to the place where they nested. The old city of Dubrovnik is the home of a large number of swifts, which create the well-known sound settings of the City with their rattling screams. They nest in the cracks of the rocks, holes in the walls and roof structures of old buildings…(www.ciopa.hr).

The gorgeous Mediterranean landscape is also the home of numerous animal species, while the Adriatic Sea is extremely rich in life forms too. You can get acquainted with the fauna of the Dubrovnik region at the Dubrovnik Natural Science Museum, and learn about the maritime world at the Dubrovnik Aquarium.