Kupari combines an approximately 400-meter-long sandy beach on Župa Bay with a history shaped by a fortified house and the beginnings of tourism. Coastal scenery and historical development thus stand side by side. The approximate beach length gives this landscape feature a concrete measure; the preserved Toreta and the history of the hotels anchor the second perspective in buildings and dates.
Sandy Beach and Coastal Scenery
The sandy beach on Župa Bay is approximately 400 meters long. In the wider destination of Općina Župa Dubrovačka, Mlini offers a different coastal setting: there, shallow pebble beaches, sheltered coves, flower gardens, and promenades shape the town. If you distinguish destinations by their landscapes, these are two clearly defined profiles: the sandy beach in Kupari and the coastal and garden features of Mlini.
Historical Traces in Kupari
Toreta is a fortified house that Orsat Đurđević had built in 1623 to defend against pirates. The building has been preserved in Kupari. With its specific date, builder, and defensive purpose, it provides a tangible point of reference for the town's history. Toreta represents a different historical period from Kupari's later tourist development.
The name of the town also reaches back into history: Kupari was first mentioned as Criepi in 1440. The name referred to a local workshop that made roof tiles. The modern name Kupari derives from the Italian translation of the same term. Both the historical name and the present-day name thus refer to local tile production.
Kupari is the oldest tourist resort in Župa. Organized tourism development began in the late 1910s: construction of the first hotel, Štrand, began in 1919; the first hotel was built in 1920. In addition, the former brickworks and manor house were converted into the Grand Hotel, and a palm-lined park was created. This development connects the town's earlier history with Kupari's tourist character, while the beach and cultural heritage remain distinct topics.
In the wider destination of Općina Župa Dubrovačka
As a regional setting, Općina Župa Dubrovačka offers a 50-kilometer network of themed hiking trails throughout the municipality: “Walking Paths of Župa dubrovačka.” The Connecting Route links Župa dubrovačka with the Croatian Long Distance Trail toward Srđ above Dubrovnik and with the Heart of Konavle Trail. These trails describe a theme at the municipal level; they complement Kupari's local history and beach rather than replace them.
The history of other places in the wider Općina Župa Dubrovačka also broadens the view of the region. Goričina lies between Kupari and Srebreno and was once a settlement and port. Fragments of Roman amphorae, pottery, and coins have been found there. Amphorae, urns, and coins of Roman emperors discovered in Srebreno attest to the area's historical continuity.
In Mlini, also within the wider destination of Općina Župa Dubrovačka, milling was historically important; one of the former mills is still well preserved today. The Church of Sv. Ilara in Mlini is mentioned in the Statute of Dubrovnik of 1272 and was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1683. These regional examples can be considered alongside Kupari's own history without attributing them to the town itself.
Discover more destinations: Petrača, Čelopeci, Brašina, Brgat, Soline, Srebreno, Mlini, Plat
Go to the wider destination overview: Općina Župa Dubrovačka.
