156
RAGUSA
Salerno, the reputed author of the other fountain we noticed near the Porta Pile. The fountain in the piazza is an octagonal basin, with single figures on each face, from which rises a spiral column carrying a capital composed of crouching figures, on which rests a round basin with carved faces round its bowl, into which six inverted dolphins pour water from their jaws, and carry on their adjoined tails an acanthus-shaped pinna. In front of the clock-tower is the Orlando column, a square pilaster, with the figure of a warrior in armour, sword erect and shield by side, commemorating a mythic relief of Ragusa from the Saracen attacks, by Charlemagne’s Paladins. The piazza also contains the church of Ragusa’s Patron Saint, St. Blaise, but the building we now see dates only from 1715, when the old church was destroyed by fire. A little farther on is the finest of Ragusa’s civic buildings, the Rector’s Palace (Dvor, in Croat). We are immediately reminded of the Doge’s Palace at Venice, but with considerable variations. The original building dated from 1388, and was flanked by high angle towers. It served not only as the residence of the Rector and his council-chamber, but as an arsenal as well. The Ducal Palace at Venice served similar purposes,