The earliest written reference to the palace dates back to 1349, although there was a fortress on the site before that. The current building, with its arcaded loggia and large central courtyard, is a curious hodgepodge of styles that have built-up over the centuries to show-off the skills of many of the city’s most famous architects, who have attempted to resurrect the building throughout it’s somewhat unlucky history. After a fire in 1435, Onofrio della Cava of Naples, the master-builder who had been responsible for the city’s water supply and the small ornate fountain outside in Luža Square, built a small Gothic palace, of which, elements still remain in the current building. After the highly destructive explosion in the gunpowder store in 1463, famous architect Micheloezo di Bartolomeo of Florence, who was refortifying the city walls at the time, set about reconstruction in Renaissance style. Finally, damage from the earthquake of 1667 resulted in Baroque reparations.

Inside the central courtyard you are greeted by the 1638 bust of Miho Pracat, a 16th century merchant who left his wealth to the republic. He was the only citizen to have his image preserved in sculpture in defiance of local laws drawn-up to prevent hero cults from emerging. Off of the courtyard is a portal marked Obliti privatorum publica curate (Forget private affairs and get on with public matters), and the large rooms where the Major Council and Senate held their meetings. While upstairs you will find the Rector’s living quarters. These rooms now house exhibitions of the usual collection of reconstructed interiors, local coins, artworks, and period costumes. These trace the history of the city from it’s Roman foundations to the present day. One of the more powerful exhibits is the collection of old clocks, all stopped at a quarter to 6, the time at which on the 30th of January, 1806, Napoleonic forces entered the city, marking the end of the republic.

Entrance to the museum is just about worth the 15kn entrance fee, if you have a spare half an hour, but is hardly worth going out your way for. Potentially more rewarding for those that wish to gain access to the interior are the concerts held in the central courtyard here during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.