Ever wondered where Dubrovnik’s first airport was? It was right here in Gruda. Imagine a grassy field serving as a runway.
Gruda is a village in Konavle. It is located in Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Gruda lies 30 km from Dubrovnik. About 800 people call Gruda home. That is including the small villages of Bačev Do and Tušići.
Gruda sits at the foot of Ilija’s Hill. Two rivers flow nearby. These are the Ljuta and Konavočica. They meet at Sastav. This spot was once popular for swimming among Gruda’s youth.
Let’s step back in time. The first mention of Gruda was in the 17th century. Back then it was known as Držojevići. The name changed to Gruda in the 19th century. An elementary school opened here in 1881.
Now picture this. It’s June 1st, 1936. The first airplane lands in Konavle, right here at Gruda’s airport. It was a simple grass strip. Yet, it connected Dubrovnik to Split, Zagreb, Vienna, Prague and Brno. This airport served until 1962. Then a larger one was built in Čilipi.
Gruda also embraced technology early. The first automatic telephone exchange was installed in 1938. A lower gymnasium with a dormitory was established in 1944.
Gruda has long been an agricultural center. Families here have traditionally processed olives and grapes. It was mainly for their own consumption. Today Gruda is the economic heart of Konavle. Viticulture is still key. The local winery buys grapes from Konavle’s vintners. It faced challenges during the war. Now, it is slowly recovering its pre-war potential.
For recreation Gruda has the football club Slaven. There is also a bocce club named Slaven. In summer, the village hosts an amateur football-tennis tournament. It is gaining popularity in the region. The Konavle Basketball School also operates in Gruda.
Gruda is surrounded by other villages. Radovčići, Ljuta, and Dunave are nearby. The climate here is Mediterranean. The rivers Konavočica and Ljuta enrich the landscape.
So, as we stand in Gruda remember its history. Think of the planes landing. Envision the fields of grapes. Consider the families working the land. Gruda may be small but its story is rich.