PONTA DOCK

In the most protected part of the harbour, today’s southern water area, which was documented as small or inner sea, at the site of today’s Little pier (Mali muo), an ancient dock called Muo ponte (pontem portus) was originally built. In 1566, a stone pier was built at that location. It was used for transhipment of various cargo, especially wood, as well as for docking of ships of the rector and of numerous dignitaries that visited Dubrovnik, as the nearby Ponta Gate led to the square, which was religious and social administrative centre of the city.

Since it was around 45 meters long, the largest ships of that time were able to dock alongside of it. There were two bollards built into the dock, made of late antique syenite pillar fragments. The edge of the dock (the top) was triangular in shape to break the waves instead of deflecting them, which contributed to better maritime conditons in the harbour.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a shoreline was constructed in front of the Ponta Gate, and the dock was shortened to a length of about 30 meters’ length and a width of about 5,80 meters.