A look into the past
Historia est magistra vitae (History is the teacher of life) — Cicero
The Natali family is an integral part of Dubrovnik’s rich history. At the beginning of the 16th century, Mato Natali arrived in the city from the island of Lopud and began his Dubrovnik story. Little by little, he built his future in maritime trade.
Like several other families, the wealthy Natali family was admitted into the aristocratic circle due to their merits, following the fatal earthquake of 1667 that devastated Dubrovnik and claimed many lives. From that moment, their ascent began. The history of the Natali family is written in the individual destinies of its members — from sailors and soldiers to painters and mothers. Each family member strengthened the name of this renowned family through their life and deeds.
Among them, Đivo Natali (1755–1853), a great patriot and hero of the 1813 uprising against the French, deserves special attention. He lived in our summer residence. After the fall of the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1808, Dubrovnik’s patriots dreamed of freedom and the restoration of the Republic. Đivo Natali, together with his brothers Karlo and Jero, was the fearless heart of the uprising that erupted in October 1813 with the support of the English.
Unfortunately for the insurgents, their efforts were unsuccessful. Austria occupied Dubrovnik in 1814. However, in 1815, the Dubrovnik nobility made another attempt to restore freedom and re-establish the Republic. On that occasion, Đivo Natali embarked on a diplomatic mission to distant Constantinople, seeking support from the Sultan and the English ambassador. He was the last Dubrovnik envoy to Turkey, but his mission failed. Despite his efforts, he arrived too late. With the conclusion of the Congress of Vienna on 9 June 1815, the territory of the Republic of Dubrovnik was annexed to the Habsburg Monarchy. And thus, Đivo’s story came to an end.
Sad and subdued, Đivo Natali retired to his summer residence in Gornji Kono (Palace Natali), where he died in 1853, without family or descendants. Through his heroism, loyalty, and nobility, he left Dubrovnik’s history in his debt and remains an indelible part of it.
