The beautiful city of Zadar on the Croatian coast is rich in archaeological and artistic heritage. During its turbulent history, many peoples have left their mark on the historic old town, making it a treasure trove of architecture and science.
Zadar is separated from the Croatian mainland by a moat, which today is the city's harbour. On its easily defensible peninsula with the fertile plateaus behind it, where fruit and vegetables for Zadar's markets have been growing for centuries, the city is absolutely ideally situated.
The historic old town of Zadar is best explored on foot. Strolling among the neat houses with their bright red roofs, you can discover many an architectural treasure.
Since Zadar was a fortified city until 1873, the four large city gates can still be seen today, of which the Marine Gate still contains a piece of a Roman triumphal arch. Today, there is a restaurant in the Customs Gate at the harbour, which is popular mainly because of its fantastic view over the coast of Zadar.
The most beautiful gate is the Land Gate, which used to be the only entrance to the city. Built in 1543, it is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Zadar. Reminiscent of a triumphal arch, the Land Gate is adorned with Zadar's coat of arms and guarded by a winged Venetian lion.
Behind the land gate, you enter the Venetian citadel from 1548, which is now used as an open-air stage.
Roman Forum
The land gate ("Porta Terraferma") is also the "entrance" to the Roman forum, with the capitol and temple not only the former centre of Zadar, but of all Dalmatia. The remains of the temple are still scattered around the impressive square and the paving is still original. The 14m high Corinthian column was used as a pillory in the Middle Ages.
The most beautiful squares in the old town of Zadar
Just beyond the Square of Five Fountains, a staircase leads to the Bastion of Zadar. It is nestled in a secluded garden and offers a magnificent view over the marina and down to the land gate.
The rather simple St. Donatus Church dates back to the early 9th century. The rotunda is popular for concerts because of the fantastic acoustics of the 26-metre-high interior.
One of the most magnificent churches in Zadar is probably the Cathedral Church of St. Anastasia, whose campanile rises right next to the Church of Donatus. The church of Sveti Stosija dates from the second half of the 13th century and is considered the largest church in Dalmatia.
With a 56-metre-high bell tower, marble altars rich in figures, wonderful reliefs and masterful paintings, it is worth a closer look. Its crypt houses the relics of Saint Anastasia of Sirmium in a marble sarcophagus.
In 2005, the Romanesque Cathedral Church of Saint Anastasia was nominated as a World Heritage Site, but has not yet been designated by UNESCO.
PICTURES: Cathedral Church of St. Anastasia in Zadar
On Zeleni trg opposite the ensemble of Sveti Donat and Sveti Stosija is the church of Sveti Marija, a Benedictine convent from the 11th century.
The Archaeological Museum of Zadar is also located here. It displays significant collections from the city's history from its founding to the Middle Ages and focuses mainly on the Roman period.
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The museum is housed in the former Church of the Holy Trinity, which is considered the oldest sacral building in Zadar. According to legend, it was built as early as the 9th century on the remains of a temple of the Roman goddess Juno.
The Church of St. Simeon also houses relics in an ornate shrine, that of St. Simeon. It is located behind the Land Gate just to the right and lies between the Nautical Museum and the Museum of Ancient Glass.
A special highlight of the old town of Zadar is located in the very northwest of the peninsula. At the Zadar Sea Organ, however, there is nothing to see, only to hear.
In 2008, the artist Nikola Bašić installed tubes under the promenade that emit sounds at high tide. No visitor to Zadar should miss this extraordinary organ concert with a view over the harbour!
Only a few steps away from the sea organ, the same artist has installed the "Greeting to the Sun", a 22m circular platform with information on sunrise and sunset. On the front side of the peninsula, at the Ancona Pier, huge cruise ships dock again and again.
Zadar was founded by the Illyrians as early as the 4th century and conquered by the Romans in the 6th century. The splendid appearance of the old town of Zadar is largely due to them.
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Also at the beginning of the 12th century, under the Croatian-Hungarian Emperor Koloman, many magnificent churches, monasteries and palaces were built. The expansion displeased the Venetians, who conquered Zadar shortly afterwards with 450 warships and destroyed all the buildings except for the churches.
After that came the Austrians, Italians and French, who all left their personal mark on this wonderful little town on the Adriatic. Zadar is also the birthplace of Croatia's first university, first novel and first newspaper.
