DUBROVNIK, 7 April 2020 – A rare sight that residents in Dubrovnik can not remember happening before greeted locals this week on the city’s most famous street – Stradun.

Dubrovnik streets, including the usually packed limestone-paved Stradun, have been empty these past two weeks as locals stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The rest from thousands of footsteps has given nature an opportunity to take centre stage and grass is now growing between the polished stones.

“I do not ever remember grass growing on Stradun,” a local explains.

“This is a sign that better times will come. Because nature is fighting. It is a sign that after the rain comes the sun, that after sadness comes happiness … that after illness comes health. We’re in this together.”

Two years ago, Stradun made it onto a list of ’25 incredible streets you must visit before you die’ published by leading UK newspaper The Telegraph.