2-332-802 - Peter Thompson/Heritage Images

Rector's Palace, Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Rector's Palace was the centre of the government of the Republic of Dubrovnik, which was an independent city-state from the 14th century until 1808. The building was originally built in the mid 15th century by the Neapolitan architect Onofrio di Giordano de la Cava but needed reconstruction after a gunpowder explosion in 1463 and again after a severe earthquake struck Dubrovnik in 1667.