In the evening of our third day in Croatia, we were heading from Plitvice Lakes National Park to see famous Sea Organ of Zadar. Zadar is almost in the middle of Croatia, between Zagerb and Dubrovnik.
First we stopped at late lunch at Bistro Plješevica. Since they had a grill on, we assumed they are going to grill a pork for us. I think they already had it grilled and it was delicious. We were able to pay only cash though.




After stuffing our stomachs, we were heading to Zadar. It was quite rainy day, but were were happy that at least it was raining while we were driving and not hiking in Plitvice.



We were unlucky and one of the tunnels on the highway was closed, so we had to drive through the top of the mountains to reach Zadar. It added 1h extra to the drive.


We arrived to Zadar quite late and it was almost getting dark with the rain clouds in the sky.
Our next apartment was Villa Punta in Zadar. We had an amazing view from the balcony! Though we didn’t get to really use it due to the rain. Really recommend staying there.



In the morning we packed our stuff and headed to the Old Town of Zadar.



The old town of Zadar in Croatia dates back to the 9th century and is a fascinating example of a medieval Mediterranean port city. It enjoys a stunning location between the Velebit Mountains and the Adriatic Sea and is considered to be one of Croatia’s most beautiful coastal cities. From the 9th century onwards, Zadar was a major city in the Adriatic with Christians, Muslims and Jews living side by side. During the 375 years of Venetian rule, many churches, fortresses and other civic monuments were built in the skyline around the city. This period saw Zadar transformed into a central city of culture and justice and made it one of the most influential towns in the region.
The old town was heavily damaged during World War II but has been painstakingly reconstructed to its former glory. Many of the city’s original landmarks, including St Donatus’ Church, the Venetian City Gates and Church of St Mary are definitely worth a visit.
Today Zadar is 5th biggest city in Croatia with the population of 67,349 people and one of the main sea ports in Croatia.





The Ethnographic National Museum of Zadar was founded in 1945 and housed in a private villa in the Brodarica area. Initially, the museum consisted of an Ethnographic and Natural History department, with its basis being a collection of over two hundred objects. In 1950, the Ethnographic Department opened, borrowing objects from Zagreb and Split museums. In 1951, the department had about three hundred items. In 1952, the department became an independent museum, and in 1962 it rejoined the National Museum. In 1975, professional care of an Ethnographic Collection in Veli Iž was taken, which in 1994 became a regional collection. The Department of Ethnology collects objects, information, photographs, audio and film documentation, postercards, and organizes workshops to familiarise people with the traditional culture of northern Dalmatia. It also collaborates with the Ethnology Department of the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, and the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Zadar. Its aim is to help the population of this area to dialogue with their own cultural heritage and search for their own cultural identity in contemporary cultural.

Situated on the south side of the People’s Square, the City Lodge (Gradska loža) is a building which has been making an appearance in records since the 13th century. It was reconstructed in 1565 according to the designs of Michele Sanmicheli. Initially serving as a courthouse, private city council chambers, and a library, the City Lodge was severely damaged in World War II and was consequently restored. Nowadays, with its huge windows and high ceilings, it is a stunning venue for events like the international photography “Man and the Sea” and contemporary Croatian art “The Blue Salon”, both of them happening once every three years.


Under Julius Ceasar, parts of Croatia became a part of the Roman Empire, with the city of Zadar becoming a Roman colonia. As with many other Roman colonies, Zadar acquired a regular road network, a capitolium with a temple, and a forum, which was commissioned by Caesar’s successor and nephew, Emperor Augusta. The Forum served as the figurative and physical centre of public life, a place for social gatherings as well as political debates and meetings. The Forum was destroyed in a 6th century earthquake, only leaving the pavement and some stair remains of the original temple. To this day, two monumental columns still stand, one thought to be a shame pillar with holes for chains, reflecting its social role. Furthermore, parts of the plastered wall with remains of frescoes are still visible, alongside other monuments and the view of the St Donatus Church. The Zadar Roman Forum continues to host concerts, films and other events, making it a site of both ancient and modern social life.

Crkva sv. Donata (Church of St. Donatus) is a Roman Catholic church located in the historic city centre of Zadar, Croatia. It was built in the 9th century and is one of the oldest standing churches in the region.
The church was originally used as a Roman temple in honor of the god Jupiter. It was built as part of the construction of the Diocletian Palace. In the 7th century, the temple was converted to Christianity by the bishop Donatus, and it was renamed after him.
The architecture of the church was heavily influenced by the Venetian-Byzantine style seen in many other churches in this region. The entrance of the church is through a Baroque style façade built during the 18th century. The interior is circular in plan, and the walls are lined with carved marble and decorated with frescoes.
The church is also home to a bronze sculpture of St. Anastasia, which is believed to have been created in the 14th century. The church complex also includes an octagonal bell tower (Zvonik katedrale sv. Stošije).




The bells in the bell-tower are some of the oldest surviving bells in Croatia. They are made of bronze and date from 1365. The largest bell is the Trinity bell, which weighs 1,269 kilograms (2,790 lb) and is believed to have been cast by Croatian bell founders.
The bells of the bell-tower have a rich history of ringings. During the Austro-Hungarian period, they were said to be “sounding the four cardinal points of the city” for important events. In the 1800s, the bells were rung into the early morning to herald Easter Sunday. During the Yugoslav War, they were used as an alarm, ringing out throughout the night when NATO troops were in the area.

The Zvonik or Bell Tower of St. Stošija Cathedral was built at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries and is one of the oldest standing religious structures in Croatia.
The oldest records concerning the building of the cathedral state that it was built at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, although other dates have been suggested ranging from the 7th to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest buildings in the city. The cathedral features a Romanesque façade, with a Latin cross layout, horizontal tufa or travertine arches, and six buttresses on its sides. The belltower, also known as the Zvonik, is a remarkable structure, added during the reconstruction of the 12th century. It is 40 meters (131 ft) tall and rectangular in shape, with seven limestone arches at its top. At the bottom of the belltower is the Golden Chapel, which was constructed during the 16th century.
Throughout the years, the cathedral underwent several other renovations. In 1609 an earthquake destroyed the roof of the sanctuary. In 1667 a fire damaged the church, while in 1886 a new roof was added. The most recent and extensive reconstruction happened after the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995, which affected the city of Zadar severely. The project was finished in 1998, and the restoration work resulted in the Bell Tower and Golden Chapel retaining their original appearance.

The Cathedral of St. Anastasia is a Roman Catholic church, which was founded in 997 and is the city’s oldest church. It has undergone numerous restorations and upgrades throughout its long history.
The Church is primarily known for its Gothic forms and for being a major religious center of the city. It is one of Zadar’s most important religious centers, as evidenced by its prominent position in the city. It served as the seat of the Zadar Archdiocese until 1828 and is one of Zadar’s oldest churches.
The Church has two main towers, the north tower and south tower that tell the time for the city. There is also the bell tower which contains a carillon of 18 bells and a nave decorated with murals and frescoes. The interior of the church is adorned with magnificent paintings, frescoes, and stained glass windows.
The Cathedral of St. Anastasia also houses a Museum of Sacred Art and an Archeology collection. It has also adapted over the years, and underwent renovations in the 16th century and in the 19th century, when a new Neo-Gothic façade was added. In 2008, the church underwent a major renovation to restore its original medieval style.

The Pillar of Shame (Stup srama) is an old, weather beaten pole located at a historic square in Zadar. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a tool for public punishments, including humiliation, chaining, and whipping. Though it is still a remnant of the city’s long history, its purpose has since changed and it now only symbolizes a bygone era of punishment. It is now a peaceful sight that blends in with the other ancient architecture of Zadar’s Roman Forum.



If you take a closer look at the wall nearby, it is evident that it was once used as a ritual altar, depicting reliefs of Jupiter, Ammon and Medusa. Above these representations, the hollows left from the sacrifice of blood used in ancient ceremonies can be seen. This place is thought to have served as the upper Temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva in the first century BC.

The Sea Organ of Zadar is a unique structure that was created in 2005 by architect Nikola Bašić. The sea organ is located along the edge of the Adriatic Sea in Zadar, Croatia. The organ works with the power of the waves that flow through the structure into 35 organ pipes made from concrete and marble. These pipes create different pitches depending on the intensity of the waves and create beautiful and soothing melodies.
The purpose of the Sea Organ is to provide a type of musical landscape to the city of Zadar as well as a unique experience for tourists and locals alike

The Greeting to the Sun is an installation in Zadar’s sea front. It consists of 300 multi-layered glass plates placed on the same level as the stone-paved waterfront. Underneath this installation, three hundred different solar collectors are arranged in a pattern and are responsible for producing over 15000 colours of light. The idea for the installation first came about in 2006 when the mayor at the time, Božidar Kalmeta, wanted to create something of historical importance for his city and to honour their sun. With help from local artists Nikola Bašić and Tonija Maroević, the project was funded and completed in 2008. The biggest circle, the Sun, is 22m in diameter.
This installation produces half of the power required to light the waterfront and the light show was designed for 50 years upfront starting from 2008. So best to visit in the evening at sunset and watch the light show (which we missed it though as we’ve visited at daytime!).

You can hire a boat with a rowing man to transfer you to the other side from Zadar old town, if you are staying on the northern part of the coast. The cost is € 1 per person and takes like 3-5 min. They operate from 7 am to 9 pm

Don’t miss out
Sphinx of Zadar – Egyptian Sphinx statue.
The Greeting to the Sun at sunset and the light show.
Land Gate – Entrance to old town from south side.
You might find this list of places to see in Zadar useful: