Walls of Dubrovnik were built in the 13th century. During the 15th century were built 15 towers as a part of the city walls, some of them are preserved until today. There used to be four gates leading into The City of Dubrovnik: the Pile Gate, The Ploce Gate, the Peskarija Gate and the Ponta Gate. Buža Gate was opened in the northern part of the Walls in 1908 during the Austrian rule.
Ploče Gate is the main entrance to the Old Town from the eastern side which also has a bridge like Pile Gate. This gate (also known as Vrata od Ploca) was built in the 14th century.
The bridge was built according to the prototype of Pile Gate’s bridge by Ivan of Siena, but later it was demolished and after reparation, the wooden drawbridge had been inserted. Crossing this bridge you can come to the Revelin fortress and in the continuation, there is the main street of Dubrovnik City- Stradun. Ploce Gates has also Inner and Outer Gates.
The Inner Ploce Gate was built in Romanesque style and are really small. Above the gate stands a stone statue of the patron of Dubrovnik, St. Blaise, also in a Romanesque style. During the period of Austrian occupation at the end of the 19th century, the new, larger gates were opened next to these.
The Outer Ploce gate was built in 1450 by Simeone della Cava. In the 19th century, the gate was widened.
FUN FACT: Today, this is a gateway to the beaches and hotels at Ploce.