10 km from Petrčane, lays more than 3000 years old town of Zadar.
As an introduction, let's introduce the number 1 attraction in Zadar today, which is "The monument of the Sun" or "Greetings to the Sun" and the "Sea organ". They are both part of the same project whose author is a famous Croatian and Zadar's architect Nikola Bašić.
"The monument of the Sun" or "Greetings to the Sun" (Croatian: "Spomenik suncu" or "Pozdrav suncu"), probably the most beautiful monument dedicated to the Sun that exists on the Earth, is a symbolic urban installation which, by means of photovoltaic cells built-in sea walkway, changes solar energy into lighting spectacle.
Solar (photovoltaic) cells collect solar energy during the day and charge the batteries. LED lights connected to the batteries light up during the night in various colors and arrangements.
Sea organ is located right next to the monument of the sun.
"The Sea organ" (Croatian: "Morske orgulje") is an architectural object located in Zadar, Croatia and a first musical instrument of its kind in the world, which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps.
ZADAR OLD TOWN
Zadar was founded more than 3000 years ago by Illyrians, the indigenous tribe from Adriatic coastal region.
Later, as the Roman Empire expanded and the region of Dalmatia became a Roman province, Romans conquered the Illyrians and founded the roman city at the place of an existing Illyrian settlement.
Zadar was, and still is today, one of the most preserved examples of a roman planned city in the world, with the orthogonal layout of the streets and two main streets called CARDO (north-south) and DECUMANUS (east-west), forming the basis for the streets layout.
Roman DECUMANUS remained the town's main street throughout the history, as the empires and states changed from Roman to French, from Venetian to Austro-Hungarian, from Yugoslavian to Croatian period all the way to present time.
It has been the centre of life in town, with most shops, bars and other attractions.
Today's decumanus, the main street in Zadar old town is called Kalelarga. It's name origins from Italian, "cale (street) and larga (wide)" meaning "the wide street", or "široka ulica" when translated to Croatian.
Kalelarga, historic and today
Kalelarga at midday
Cathedral of St. Anastasia from Romanesque period from 13th century at the end of Kalelarga street
Where two main streets meet, cardo and decumanus, lays a ROMAN FORUM, which is until today, one of two main squares in Zadar.
ROMAN FORUM, or "The Pope John Paul II Plaza" as it is called today
Famous pre-Romanesque church of St. Donatus from the 9th century at ROMAN FORUM, at day and at night, where many concerts take place under the clear summer night sky
Second main square in Zadar, formed in medieval time, called "Narodni trg", or "People's square"
Zadar, a town at the centre of northern Adriatic coast, is a true treasure trove of archaeological Roman, Medieval and Renaissance monumental heritage, as well as numerous modern architectural achievements.
Life at Zadar city streets
Among lots of different museums that can be found in Zadar, one of the most famous is the so called "Gold and Silver Exhibition", located in the monastery of St. Mary near the Roman Forum:
"The Gold and The Silver of Zadar"
"Museum of Ancient Glass"
"Archeological museum Zadar"
Another interesting place in Zadar, combining the ancient and the modern is "Petar Zoranić square"
This contemporary square located in Zadar old town is connected with so called "glass interfaces" with ancient and medieval ruins which lay beneath it.
"Petar Zoranić square"
Crowd at Sea organ
Zadar old town is enclosed by medieval city walls, which are still well preserved:
The main gate (one of altogether 8 gates preserved today), or the entrance to Zadar old town, dating from Renaissance time
ZADAR "RIVA" AND THE STORY OF ZADAR SUNSET
Zadar Riva, the only area of Zadar old town not enclosed by city walls, with "riva" meaning "the promenade by the sea" is one of the most beautiful rivas in Croatia.
One of the famous film directors in the world of all times, Alfred Hitchcock, while his stay in a hotel at Zadar riva, said: "...the most beautiful sunset in the world can be seen and experienced in Zadar" he said it while spending his holiday in Zadar back in 1964 explaining that "The sunset of Zadar is the world’s most beautiful and incomparably better than in Key West, Florida"...
Sunset at Zadar riva
ZADAR OUTSIDE THE OLD TOWN
Zadar bridge, shortening the path for passengers from the old town peninsula to the rest of Zadar:
"Zadar basketball hall Krešimir Ćošić", named after a world famous basketball player Krešimir Čosić:
Zadar City Galleria Shopping Centre:
Zadar Supernova Shopping centre:
