Zadar Things to Do

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There are two interesting ruins situated at the City Market square. The first one on the east side was once St. Rok's Chapel built in 1508. The next to it stands white facade decorated by pillars and it's remains of the new church that people from Zadar have started constructing in 1600, to prise St. Simeon one of the patron saints of the town. It was intendend to be very spacious church with a delightful facade, but was never finished. The patron saint was permanently transferred to the church that was then known as the Church of St. Stephen.
The remains of the unfinished church were heavilly damaged in the bombing during WW II, and wasn't renovated until 2004.

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The Forte Fortress is situated adjacent to the Land gate (or Lion's Gate), it is military purpose structure built in 1567 by the Venetian military commander Sforza Pallavicino. This fortress was separated from the city and from land by defensive moats. It served to defend the city from the land attacks.
Nowadays the city park Vladimir Nazor is situated inside the structure of the former fortress.

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Palace Ghirardini is an example of 15th century Venetian styled palace, very simple in the forms, which is situated just a foot from the Main Square. it is notable for its Romanesque/Ghotic styled balcony. You need to know that the town of Zadar have suffered of major aliens air attacks (there was over 90 attacks) during the WW II, and not much of the old core was left.
Nowadys this palace houses Matica Hrvatska, an association which preserve Croatian language and traditions.

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The Renaissance municipal Town Guard, or "Straza" as it is called by the local citizens, have robust forms of rustic mannerism. It is situated on Narodni trg, the Main Square of the town. In the medieval times, Straža was the seat of the city guard. Nowadays Straza houses am modern art gallery.

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Before the Second World War, Zadar was one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic coast. Since in that war the town was German stronghold, it has suffered of 94 bombardings, during which most of the town's buildings were pulled down.
This are remains of the curch called Stomorica or the Church of St. Mary "de Pusterla" from the 11th century. It has fascinating ground plan, five semicircular apses and the semicircular portal. Until now only the foundations were preserved of this pre-Romanesque church which had a cupola and on the place of one apse e retangular extension with a bell tower. It is believed that its ground plan, which is in the shape of key, symbolizes the keys of Sanit Peter.

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For a many centuries Zadar was rival of Venice and the Republic wanted to put it under own controll and rule but have never succeeded. When the Fourth Crusade started it was led by the Pope Innocent III who made agreement with the Republic of Venice to transport the crusaders to Jerusalem by their ships. Since the crusaders couldn't afford to pay the whole negotiated amount of money the Republic of Venice made the separate agreement with the military leaders of the Crusade. The Venetians indicated that they would accept the invasion of Zadar and Trieste as compensation for the transporting. It was the first attack against a catholic city by catholic crusaders. The Fourth Crusade sacked the town of Zadar despite letters from Pope Innocent III forbidding such an action. The city of Zadar fell in 1202 and remined under the Venetian rule for many centuries.
This palace, called Nassis and Petrizio, is late-Medieval structure with Gothic windows and arched inner yard with the font in it central position.

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Foša is small and very pitoresque port situated beneath the city walls and next to the Lion's Gate. In the 16th and 17th century Foša was a ditch but later on partly choked up while the other part filled with the sea-water and transformed into port for the small boats. It is part of the city walking paths along the seaside and connected with the New Riva.

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Nikola Bašić's Greeting to the sun feels like most vibrant public 'playground' on the entire Adriatic coast: it won't get only kids to play with mulitple shades of light, but also people of any other generation will eventuelly get equally impressed. Finished in 2008 it's the result of latest technology using solar power - during the day sun rays are absorbed in 300 solar cells froming large circle (diameter is 22 meters), and are activated upon sunset, creating different patterns in changing colors and intervals.

Trully amazing place... kids are running, colors are changing, people lay down or sit on the circle, watch sunset, everybody seems to be having good time there. Some are having discussion about the technology, about society, about philosophy, stars... others will be taking endless photos as lights are changing both on the sky, in the reflection of the sea and on the ground, from second to second another color.

The project that succeeded to bring people of all walks of life together.

It is no surprise the project has won many international awards for creative solution for public urban space and that Zadar people feel proud with it. It is that much positive feedback it gives!