Trsteno

Trsteno is a small village 29km north-west of Dubrovnik. It got the name from trstika (reeds) which grows in abundance in the area. The settlement dates at least to the 5th century, according to the archeologist who found early Christian capital near the parish church. More recent are medeival tomstones (stečak). The area became part of the Dubrovnik Republic in 1399.

Dubrovnik noble families started building summer residences in Trsteno in the 15th and 16th century. One of them was Ivan Gučetić who built a chapel and a house in Gothic-reneassance style. His collection of plants and schrubs was enchanced with baroque fountain with a statue of Neptune and nymphs in 1736. The last owner Vito Gučetić added a collectoon of sculptures and ancient stones. After WWII the estate was confiscated and given to the Yugoslav (now Croatian) academy of sciences that expanded the place into an arboretum.

Trsteno has good land connections with Dubrovnik.