Lawrence OP's photostream  

"At Sebaste in Armenia, in the time of the governor Agricolaus, the passion of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, who, after working many miracles, was scourged for a long time, suspended from a tree where his flesh was lacerated with iron combs. He was then imprisoned in a dark dungeon, thrown into a lake from which he came out safe, and finally, by order of the judge, he and two boys were beheaded. Before him, seven women who were gathering the drops of his blood during his torture, were recognized as Christians, and after undergoing severe torments, were put to death by the sword."

- From the Roman Martyrology for today, the feast of St Blaise, patron of Dubrovnik (among other places).

This silver statue of the saint is taken on solemn procession through the city on this day each year.

Dubrovnik is surrounded by City Walls which are 2 km long, and they are guarded by 'armed' guards, although I suspect they're here for the tourists!

The Dominican priory in Dubrovnik is one of the few in the Order that has been continuously occupied by the friars since it was built. Many others have been disrupted by war, religious upheaval or revolutions.

A lovely Renaissance capital converted into a well head in Dubrovnik.

The Sponza Palace, with its elegant Gothic Renaissance facade is one of the few buildings that has survived in the city from before the catastrophic 1667 earthquake. Above the central window is St Blaise, patron and protector of Dubrovnik, whose feast is on 3 February.