Trsteno Arboretum, Central Croatia Travel Guide

Trsteno Arboretum, located in the village of Trsteno, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Dubrovnik, offers a serene escape into nature and history. Established in the late 15th century by the noble Gučetić-Gozze family, it stands as the oldest Renaissance garden in Dalmatia and the only arboretum on the eastern Adriatic coast. The family, keen on botany, requested ship captains to bring back seeds and plants from their travels, creating a diverse collection of flora.Spanning over 25 hectares, the arboretum features a Renaissance park with a summer house, a neo-romantic park, an old olive grove, and natural vegetation. The Renaissance garden, designed in 1502, showcases geometric shapes with lavender, rosemary, and bougainvillea. The 15th-century summer residence offers a glimpse into the lives of Dubrovnik's elite, surrounded by landscaped gardens with stone aqueducts, fountains, and pavilions.Botanical highlights include a diverse collection of native and exotic flora such as towering palm trees, vibrant bougainvillea, and fragrant citrus groves. The pair of Oriental Plane trees (Platanus orientalis) at the entrance, believed to be over 500 years old, are among the largest and oldest in Europe. Other key features include the 17th-century Chapel of St. Jerome, an old olive mill, a 15th-century aqueduct, and a Baroque fountain with Neptune and nymphs.The arboretum gained international fame as a filming location for the Game of Thrones series, serving as the setting for the palace gardens of King's Landing. Despite damage during the Croatian War of Independence and a fire in 2000, it has recovered and remains a vital center for botanical research and conservation. Today, the Arboretum serves scientific, museological, teaching, educational, and touristic purposes.