ZAGREB INFO |
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ZAGREB IS A CITY WITH HEART AND SOUL, A RARE EUROPEAN CAPITAL THAT STILL RESISTS THE MASS TOURISM! Welcome to Zagreb, the capital city of the Republic of Croatia. It is a city of a millennium long history, of rich civilisation and cultural heritage being deeply rooted in the European, particularly Central European culture. Zagreb is the hub of the business, academic, cultural, artistic and sporting world in Croatia. Many famed scientists, artists and athletes come from the city, or work in it. Zagreb offers its visitors the Baroque atmosphere of the Upper Town, picturesque open-air markets, diverse shopping facilities, an abundant selection of crafts and a choice vernacular cuisine. Zagreb is a city of green parks and walks, with many places to visit in the beautiful surroundings. In spite of the rapid development of the economy and transportation, it has retained its charm, and a relaxed feeling that makes it a genuinely human city. WHAT TO SEE: The Upper town, the former Gradec, together with Kaptol is the oldest part of the city. These two boroughs had been engaged in tough skirmishes once. Later they united into one city that spread further down to the South. UPPER TOWN HE STONE GATE (KAMENITA VRATA) – is the only preserved town gate of the original four. Although it is first mentioned as early as in Middle Ages, its current shape dates back to 1760, when the baroque Chapel of Holy Mother of God was built in its gateway around an old painting of a local artist. The painting miraculously survived the great fire that destroyed all wooden parts of the gate in 1731. Ever since, many people have been gathering in front of the miraculous painting daily, lighting candles in the honour of Our Lady and praying. THE OLDEST PHARMACY – right above to the gate there is a pharmacy that continues the tradition of the one established long ago, in 1355. A memorial plaque tells us that a great-grandson of Dante, the author of Divine Comedy, worked in Zagreb as a pharmacist in late 14th century. ST. MARK’S SQUARE – St. Mark’s Church that was built in the mid 13th century dominates this most beautiful square of the Upper Town. Many events crucial for Zagreb and entire Croatia took place here and many important edifices and institutions are located in this relatively tight space. The most attractive of all is St. Mark’s Church with its Romanesque naves, Gothic vaults and sanctuary and picturesque tiles on its multi-coloured roof that are arranged in such way that they form historical coats of arms of Zagreb and Croatia. The square also houses a Neo-Classicist building of the Croatian Parliament built in the first decade of the 20th century and Banski dvori, the seat of Croatian Government. (Ban was the civil governor during Austro-Hungarian rule). ST. CATHERINE’S SQUARE – named after St. Catherine’s Church, probably the most beautiful baroque church in Zagreb, built by Jesuits between 1620 and 1632. Croatian and international artists decorated the church, having painted its walls and ceiling and made its stucco decorations, ornaments and statues. LOTRŠČAK TOWER – only in Zagreb the noon is announced by the cannon firing from the Lotrščak Tower erected in the mid-13th century. It is the best-preserved part of the former defence system of the town. STROSSMAYER PROMENADE – named after the famous Bishop of Đakovo it offers a beautiful view of the Lower Town – the artery of modern Zagreb – and, to the east, of Kaptol and the Cathedral. FUNICULAR – the upper station of the funicular is here too – right beside the Lotrščak Tower. The funicular ride it short and picturesque and takes one to the Upper Town, or, in the opposite direction, down to Ilica, the city’s most dynamic street. BETWEEN UPPER TOWN AND KAPTOL TKALČIĆEVA STREET – located east of the Upper Town, used to be the boundary between the Upper town and Kaptol – two boroughs that were in engaged in quite tough skirmishes once. This former boundary is today a picturesque street with cafes in almost every house. The people of Zagreb crowd this street day in day out, making it one of the centres of modern urban life. KAPTOL CATHEDRAL OF SAINT MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION – it is the symbol of Zagreb with its two neo-Gothic towers dominating the skyline at 104 and 105 metres. In the Treasury of the Cathedral, above the sacristy, priceless treasures have been stored, including the artefacts from 11th to 19th century. Many great Croats had been buried inside the Cathedral. DOLAC – the oldest and the largest market place in the heart of the city, a platter, dish and bowl placed in front of the hungry mouth of the City. Around 60 to 70 thousand people shop daily at this wonderful food mecca, right next to the Zagreb cathedral. LOWER TOWN BAN JOSIP JELAČIĆ SQUARE – the Austro-Hungarian styled square is the true centre of the city. ZAGREB HORSESHOE – the loveliest city squares and the most beautiful parks lined up in a shape of a horseshoe, with fountains and monuments, representative buildings, palaces, museums and cultural institutions – they all make up the amazing “Green Horseshoe of Zagreb”. It is also called “Lenuci Horseshoe”, after the city surveyor Milan Lenuci, who deserves the most credit for this pearl of historicism of which Zagreb is proud. Zagreb horseshoe is part of the Lower Town, the liveliest part of the city today and its pulsating cultural and business centre. The idea that the “Green Horseshoe” – an uninterrupted line of squares and public gardens – should be made in the Lower Town occurred for the first time in 1882, after a devastating earthquake had hit the town in 1880. This “Green Horseshoe” includes the most beautiful parks and squares in Zagreb: Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square (with Archeological Museum, music pavilion, beautiful park known as Zrinjevac with fountains and busts of prominent people who made significant contribution to art, science and public life), Strossmayer Square behind the Academy Palace (with the Academy of Arts and Sciences), King Tomislav Square (with Art Pavilion in the north and Central Railway Station in the south; it is dominated by a equestrian statue of Tomislav – the first Croatian king), Ante Starčević Square (with Importanne centre – a modern shopping mall and hotel Esplanade – one of the most beautiful and best known hotels in Zagreb), Botanical Gardens – in Mihanovićeva street, the integral part of the “Green horseshoe” which was founded in 1889 by Dr Antun Heinz, professor of botany. Marko Marulić Square – western leg of the “Horseshoe” – dominated by a statue of this renaissance poet (with old University Library and Library Archive building from 1913 – the most beautiful Secessionist building in Zagreb). Ivan Mažuranić Square – named after a Croatian poet and Ban (with Ethnographic Museum) Marshal Tito Square – with the Neo-Baroque building of the Croatian National Theatre from the end of the 19th century may as well be declared the most beautiful square in Zagreb (with Zagreb University President’s Office and the Faculty of Law, Ivan Meštrović’s sculptures “The History of Croats” and “the Well of Life”, The Museum of Arts and Crafts). THE MIMARA MUSEUM – was created through the donation of one man – Ante Topić Mimara, Croatia’s biggest collector. Mimara’s gift to his people has more than 3500 works of art that are extremely valuable – it consists exclusively of foreign works since the donator lived outside Croatia from his 18th year onwards. His collection is primarily surprising because of its diversity – there are objects from ancient Egypt, Greek bronzes and silver, early glass, Chinese porcelain and jade, rare Oriental carpets, ivory sceptres of Polish kings, Burgundy sculptures and paintings by Raphael, Velasquez, Rubens, Rembrandt and others. MAKSIMIR PARK AND THE CITY ZOO – the oldest public cultivated park in Europe offers a perfect half-day outing. The 18 hectares of lush greenery and forest was opened to the public in 1794 and an added bonus, the city zoo, is hosed within it. MIROGOJ CEMETERY Mirogoj, the central Zagreb cemetery, situated on the slopes of Medvednica, is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe. It is not only the burial place but also a beautiful park and an open art gallery. The well-known architect Herman Bolle designed the shape of the cemetery, applying a monumental composition of arcades, pavilions and domes, intermingled with rich vegetation, and adding a gallery of sculptures by Croatian sculptures. ZAGREB FAIR Zagreb has had a tradition of holding fairs ever since 1242. The first international trade exhibition was held in 1864, following the trend of world expositions and fairs set in motion by technological and economic progress. Zagreb Fair is today the leading fair and trade exhibition of South East Europe. JARUN LAKE Known as the “Zagreb sea”, this is a great place for sport and recreation. It can easily be reached from the city centre by tram. The lake is equipped with one of the best regatta racing tracks in the world. MEDVEDNICA High above the city spread the forested Medvednica, the Zagreb Mountain - a protected nature park and a favourite outing destination for Zagreb residents. The cable car connects the city with Medvednica’s highest peak - Sljeme. Medvednica abounds in beautiful walks, hiking tracks and mountain huts that offer typical Croatian continental specialties such as beans with sausage, sauerkraut with blood sausage, Zagreb snitzel, strukli (cheese strudel) etc. One of the hiking tracks leads to Medvedgrad – the old royal city in the beautiful surrounds of Medvednica Nature Park (accessible by car). |
