Gruž

Cruise ship docked at Gruž

Gruž (Italian: Gravosa) (also called St. Croce) is one of the neighbourhoods of the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. In Gruž is Dubrovnik's main port, its biggest marketplace, and a main bus station "Libertas" . Around 15,000 people live in Gruž. The neighborhood is several miles west of the more famous Old City.

Located in a naturally protected bay, the port is able to accommodate large passenger cruise ships. Ferries run from the port to the Elaphiti Islands and Mljet regularly. There is also a customs building for ferries from Bari.

Gruž at the right of the entrance to Port Ombla, from which it is separated by Cantafigo point, has not much anchorage space, the shores and the bottom of the inlet being bordered by banks of mud, deposited in great quantities during heavy rains. Vessels belonging to Dubrovnik winter here, mooring in the middle, and securing to the northern shore. Violent squalls descend from the high land during the bora, and heavy gusts are felt in sirocco winds, but the water is always smooth. The shores, like those of Ombla, are strewn with villages, surrounded by cultivated grounds, which afford a pleasant summer retreat for the inhabitants of Ragusa. Vessels of considerable size are built of oak from the forests of Dalmatia, and of Mljet and Lagosta islands, the planking and masting being procured at Fiume. (Mr. D.H. Speer, Master, H.M.S. Coquette, 1848.)

We anchored at Gruž in 11 fathoms, mud, and moored head-andstern to the north-east shore, where there are mooring bollards at convenient distances : we had 3£ fathoms under the stern. This is a very snug harbour, with good holding-ground, sheltered from all winds, and capable of containing some 40 or 50 vessels. We found two French ships of the line, two Austrian frigates, 12 steam vessels of war, and about a dozen merchant-vessels. The line-of-battle ships were anchored in the roadstead, between Ombla bay and Daxa island. " There is a rock with 10 feet water on it off the north shore; it is marked by a pyramid beacon : there is a passage with a depth of 3 fathoms inside of it” "It is advisable to moor to the north-east shore, as you are then greatly protected by the high hills from the bora, which blows violently here." Supplies.—Water and provisions of all kinds may be procured.

DIRECTIONS

In proceeding to Ombla, or to Gruž, either side of Daxa may be taken. In passing to the southward, between it and the two hillocks crowned by a battery, the Daxa side should be preferred, as a low shallow point runs out from the opposite coast. Between the batteries near Lapad point, and the entrance to Gruž, the shore should be avoided when anchoring outside, as it is bordered by rocks overlaid with mud. St. Martino Bay, between Lapad point and Pettini rocks, is resorted to by small craft for protection against bora and scirocco gales. The anchorage is in 14 fathoms, between Mount Petka and Lapad points, both of which are high and covered with trees : the latter separates St. Martino bay from Port Gruž.

See also

• Dubrovnik