Can you imagine a man who is a pioneer in the sociology of law and also a master at collecting folk poems? Well, that man is right here in front of you, or rather, his statue is. This is the Valtazar Bogišić Statue in Cavtat. Valtazar Bogišić was a Serb jurist from Dubrovnik and a pioneer in two fields that might seem unrelated. His most notable research was on family structure and the creation of the unique Montenegrin civil code of 1888. This made him one of the leading figures in the sociology of law in the 19th century. But aside from this, he was also a passionate collector of Serbian folk songs. After years of travel and study, he published a collection of folk poems called “Narodne pjesme iz starijih, najdešće primorskih zapisa I”. He even managed to establish a Slavic Library in Odessa. He also had a close relationship with his grandfather, Valtazar Bogišić Senior, who taught him about folk stories and took him on his adventures on the sea, and who also encouraged Valtazar to learn more about Serbian folk poetry. Unfortunately, his grandfather only lived to see his grandson Valtazar finish nautical school. Today, Valtazar Bogišić is recognized as a prominent figure in both legal and cultural history. He is also known for his work drafting a constitution for the Serbian revolutionaries in Herzegovina. His statue, standing proudly in Cavtat, is a testament to his legacy.
Sv. Martin
“A church tucked away in a guardhouse?” you might ask. Yes, right here, before the grand Golden Gate of Diocletian’s