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Throughout the times of the Dubrovnik Republic it had different purposes and was used as a custom house, a mint and main warehouse ( known at different times as the Pontik, Divona or Dogana). Sponza was one of the more important buildings in the city and remained in continuous public use until the end of the 19th C.
Sponza was designed by Paskoje Milicevic, built by Petrovic, Radivojevc, and the Andrijici brothers (1516-1522). It represents a harmonious blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture; at the ground floor there are monumental renaissance arcades; at the first floor we find elegant gothic monofores and trifores; the second floor is decorated with Renaissance windows, while the roof is built in Gothic style.
The interior of Sponza consists in a round and spacious court, arranged as a double cloister, with round arches below and slightly pointed arches on the first floor. The first floor was used for social gatherings and meetings of learned and literary societies.
The ground floor houses exhibitions of artists and festival concerts and contains the original 16th C mechanism that controls the town bell and clock (called Zelenci - Maro and Baro).
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