About city
"That must be the most beautiful sunset in the world!" muttered Alfred Hitchcock while drinking Maraschino on the Zadar waterfront 50 years ago! Zadar is a city with a centuries-old history and rich cultural heritage, which the Times of London declared "the center of entertainment on the Adriatic". It is located in the heart of the Adriatic and is very well connected to the surrounding cities. Zadar is connected to numerous European destinations via the airport, which is located 8 km from the city center. The combination of a rich cultural and historical heritage and entertainment events with top delicacies and crazy nightlife makes this city particularly attractive for many visitors.
Culture
The symbol of the city of Zadar and one of the most famous monumental buildings in Croatia is the Church of St. Donat. It was built in the 9th century on the remains of the Roman forum, which were built into the walls of the Church. Due to its acoustic characteristics, today the space of the Church is used for numerous musical programs. Among other monumental sights, it is worth mentioning the Cathedral of St. Stošija, which is the largest Church in Dalmatia. The bell tower of the Church was built in the 15th and 19th centuries, and it offers a beautiful view of Zadar and its surroundings.
Among other sights, it is worth visiting the Church where the relics of Zadar's most famous saint, the Church of St. Šime, the female Benedictine monastery and the Church of St. Mary, Church of St. Frane, the city walls, the fošu and the palaces of Grisogono Vovo, Providuro and the Duke's palace. The production of glass objects in Zadar dates back to ancient times. A unique collection with more than 2,000 glass objects from the ancient era can be viewed in the Museum of Ancient Glass.
Visitors can attend a demonstration of glass shaping skills or participate in glass jewelry-making workshops. In the museum, it is possible to buy a replica of ancient glass, which was awarded the title of the best souvenir in the action of the Croatian Tourist Board. The most famous city street Kalelarga represents more than the street itself. It is the heart of the city, the center of daily gatherings, entertainment, and festivities. A walk along Kalelarga leads to the Forum, which is located in front of the Church of St. Donat. It used to be the city square of the Roman Lader, where the entire public life of the city took place, and today it is an ideal promenade that connects the main street and the waterfront. The people of Zadar enjoy an evening stroll along the waterfront where accompanied by the sounds of the Sea Organ, they enjoy the most beautiful sunset that creatively and colorfully outlines the installation Salutation to the Sun.
Gastronomy
The cuisine is exquisite in Zadar. Top specialties and homemade sweets with a glass of quality wines and liqueurs satisfy even the biggest gourmets. We recommend trying Maraschino, the original marasca cherry liqueur from Zadar, which is known worldwide. For lunch, treat yourself to Dalmatian pašticada, and for dessert, treat yourself to traditional kroštula or mendula in sugar.
Sport and nature
Zadar is a paradise for active tourism. 24 large and 300 small islands, 3 Telašćica nature parks; Velebit and Lake Vrana in 5 national parks; Paklenica, Plitvice, Kornati, Krka and North Velebit are the pride of the Zadar archipelago and a true little paradise for all lovers of preserved nature and active vacations. Boaters can enjoy sailing or enjoy a full-day trip to the islands of Ugljan, Pašman and Dugi otok. On the Zrmanja River, you can enjoy rafting or kayaking, hikers can choose one of 15 hiking trails and reach the top of the Paklenica National Park, and on the island of Pašman, enjoy the view of the Kornati National Park while trekking. In the Northern Velebit National Park, you can try your hand at free climbing, dive into the blue of the Zadar archipelago and explore the sunken Austro-Hungarian ship Szent Istvan, better known as the "Titanic of the Adriatic”, or try a bungee jump from a height of 56 meters on the Maslenica Bridge.
