Plat
Ancient Belenum (Belen, Belem, Bellem, Bieleni, Baleni, de Bielo – some of the names it has in old documents) is located towards the end of Župa. The Croats translated it as Bijelo and this name was could be heard until 1734, whereas the name Plat was mentioned for the first time in 1400. Roads built by the Romans, the Republic of Dubrovnik, the French and from modern times have cut into this region. The oldest settlement Spion guards traces of the Illyrians and Romans, and “during this period in the Republic of Dubrovnik, Plat is famous for the battle which the people of Župa and Šumećani waged against the Montenegrins in June 1806. You rejected the attackers, and when the French defence in Cavtat broke, you beat them off. The battle was held under the flag of the brotherhood of St. John”.
There are three small churches in Plat, three miniature sacral memorials that were built by local craftsmen. The votive Church of St. John (sv. Ivan), which was built in the Middle Ages, is located on the hill above Plat, and was mentioned for the first time in 1366. Beside the church, which keeps a vigil over Plat like a guard, is an old graveyard that is now buried underground and where only a few headstones have been kept.
Enormous spruces grew around the chapel, which were protected as natural phenomena and the widest had a circumference of 2.21 metres. Unfortunately they burnt down in a fire. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin (Velike Gospe) which had two huge cypress trees, almost 21 metres high, a natural treasure of the area, was destroyed in the Homeland war. It was built in the 19th century, probably on the foundation of an older church. The place where the church is located is very old, which is visible by the obelisks that are found on the graves that surround it. Their beauty is captivating, and the majority of these tiles or casks are richly decorated with plant motifs and pictures of hunts. One of them is particularly valuable, with its rich decorations and is surely the most beautiful obelisk in the Dubrovnik area, as well as being a valuable memorial of the 14th and 15th centuries. It stands out with its knightly form and opulent decoration.
The Church of St. Soul (sv. Duh) from the 16th century in the hamlet of Igrišta is built in a gothic renaissance style with a bell on the rock. The chapel with its architecture and decorative elements is an extremely valuable memorial.
The hydroelectric plant in Plat was built in 1965 and the largest industrial machine in this region. The summer residence of the Račić family is located not far from the hydroelectric plant.
Plat has once again become a famous summer destination with numerous tourist activities, clean sea, pebbly beaches, interesting excursions, luxurious hotels and a rich gastronomic offer.
Plat has six picturesque hamlets, each one unique for its life style and habits. Ancient Spilan sits on the big hill above Plat, and is today known under the name of Spion, and was touches Malaštica, “Mons Vardia” which has got Illyrian roots and is where the Illyrian tribes lived. At a height of 628 metres it watches over Župa like a wakeful guard of the Župa homeland.
Spilan is a continuation of Malaštica and also its end. Spilan belonged to the Illyrians, the Pleariei who built a guard post here in order to protect the coast and the sea, and is where the name Stražišče comes from. Later when the Illyrians were vanquished, the Romans took over and fortified it. Barely visible remains are preserved of walls, graves and fragments of church walls from this period.
Duboka Ljuta, or the bay of Robnison as is referred to in recent times, is located on the north-eastern bay of Župa and its boundaries are further towards Cavtat and Konavle.
The cliff, which steeply slopes down the hill of Straža, ends with a romantic, pebble beach over which the tall locks of polar trees flutter, and offer comfortable shade and peace. According to legend, elves danced noisily here in order to strike fear into anyone who came near, so that they could keep the beauty just for themselves.