Discover Slano: Franciscan Heritage and Trails

When looking for a hotel in Slano, you can consider culture, outdoor activities, and local experiences as different criteria. The Franciscan complex in Slano and several hiking and cycling options associated with Slano offer specific starting points for your interests. The wider destination of Općina Dubrovačko Primorje adds archaeological, landscape, and culinary themes.

Franciscan Complex and Trails

The Franciscan complex of St. Jerome in Slano comprises the church, the monastery, and a lapidarium. The church was completed in 1461; the garden contains stone works and early Christian archaeological remains. The lapidarium garden at the Franciscan monastery contains four early Christian sarcophagi and two tombs. The finds are associated with a fifth-century early Christian necropolis. The complex thus brings together the architectural history of the church and much older evidence of early Christian burial culture.

Hiking and cycling options associated with Slano include the Banići–Slano–Banići route, the Via Franciscana, and the Stećci Dubrovačkog primorja themed cycling trail. An interactive map is available for hiking and cycling routes between Banići, Slano, and Majkovi.

In the Wider Destination of Općina Dubrovačko Primorje

Oysters of the Ostrea species, renowned for their excellent quality, have traditionally been produced in Bistrina Bay in the Malostonski Channel. The Linđo dance from Dubrovačko primorje was recognized as intangible cultural heritage on October 19, 2011. Water and electricity supply services are available for ships in the port of Slano.

The “Vlaško greblje” site in Smokovljani comprises four stećci: one chest-shaped and three gabled tombstones. Their decorations include semicircular blind arcades and vine and rope friezes. The description links the number and shape of the tombstones with specific details of their design.

The rotunda in Ošlje is a circular building with eight apses arranged on both the exterior and interior, and is one of two structures of this kind in Croatia. It is accessible by car. You can walk freely through the surrounding green landscape, which is bordered by dry stone walls.

The viewpoints can also be compared by elevation: Gajina in Gornji Majkovi is 420 meters above sea level, while the summit of Neprobić is 963 meters above sea level. From Gajina, the view extends to the Pelješac Peninsula, Mljet National Park, the Elaphiti Islands, and the Strait of Otranto. Neprobić offers views of Slano Bay, the Elaphiti Islands, Mljet, Pelješac, and the Herzegovinian mountains.

Gajina is best reached on foot or by bicycle; there is a rest area and a self-service bicycle station nearby. As these facilities may change, check their current status before your visit.

The Lokve in Majkovi were declared Croatia’s first herpetological reserve to protect the population of European pond turtles. The House of Honey in Majkovi offers another way to experience nature: visitors can sample various types of honey and bee products, as well as observe a bee colony.

Discover more destinations: Ošlje, Banići, Topolo, Mravinca, Doli, Štedrica, Majkovi.

Go to the wider travel overview: Općina Dubrovačko Primorje.