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What to see in Zagreb? Plenty, for Zagreb is really two cities in one. There's the Lower Town, full of wide boulevards, huge squares and Secession architecture. Then there's the Upper Town which is cosy, intimate and distinctly medieval in ambience. (See a street map of Zagreb) Only one day in Zagreb? Don't miss these sights:Trg Jelacica (pronounced yell-atch-itsa) is Zagreb's central square and meeting place. You'll wind up there sooner or later as all roads and trams seem to lead there. It's dominated by a statue of Croat hero Josip Jelacic in the centre. Above (literally) the square is Zagreb's Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose twin spires are visible from afar. Begun in the 13th century, it was reconstructed in the 20th after an earthquake damaged it. You are now in the Upper Town in the Kaptol neighbourhood. Nearby is Dolac, the fruit and vegetable market and Tkalciceva, Zagreb's most colourful street, filled with little cafes that could only be described as "bohemian". (See a video of Tkalciceva street) Nearby is the Stone Gate containing a shrine to the Virgin Mary that is believed to possess magical powers. Zagreb has its share of museums. One of the best is the City Museum, also in the Upper Town, dedicated to displaying the history of Zagreb through arts, crafts and a scale model of old Zagreb. Croatia's most famous sculptor, Ivan Mestrovic, once maintained a studio in the Upper Town. Now the Mestrovic Studio is a major attraction for fans of his art who come to see sculptures, drawings and lithographs from the artist's early years.
Zagreb's most photographed site is
St Marks Church, on St Historic St Mark Square is also the site of the Croatian Sabor or Parliament and the Ban's Palace, now the presidential palace. Art lovers won't want to miss the Gallery of Naive Art nearby. Croatia has a long tradition of Naive Art and all the greats are represented here. Before leaving the Upper Town, stop at Lotrscak Tower where a cannon is fired every day at noon, allegedly to commemorate Zagreb's victory over the Turks. The Lower Town is Museum City. Zagreb's finest museum is the Mimara which presents an archaeological collection, a Far Eastern collection, art objects and works by well-known European masters such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Vasquez, Murillo, Goya, Manet, Renoir and Degas. Another highlight is the Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters which displays such notables as Bellini, Veronese, Bruegel and Carpeaux as well as the famous Baska slab, the oldest example of Croatia's native Glagolitic script. The gallery is in the middle of Zagreb's Zrinjevac Square, a green and restful park in the middle of town. If you have two days, check out the following sights:The Ethnographic Museum in the Lower Town is the place to go if you're curious about the nature and origins of Croatian culture. Folk costumes from various regions, handicrafts, tools and instruments show what is unique about Croatian culture. Nearby, the Archaeological Museum displays artifacts from prehistoric to medieval times as well as the largest coin collection in Europe. Had enough museums? Take a tram east of the centre to lovely Maksimir Park, which features artificial lakes, an Echo Pavilion and the 19th century Bellevue Pavilion. If time permits, take a short bus ride north of the city to Mirogoj cemetery, a peaceful enclave within a cupola-topped arcade. And if you're a skier you can hit the ski slopes only 30 minutes from Zagreb. Related Pages
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Mark
Square, which sports a multi-coloured tile roof constructed in 1880.
The rest of the church dates from the 13th century.