Zadar - Old & New

  • Zadar
  • Dalmatia
  • Mediterranean Europe
  • Croatia

If you’re looking to enjoy Croatia without the crowds then Zadar is just the place for you, offering ancient archaeological sights and attractions to pristine beaches and natural beauty in the Northern part of the Dalmatian Coast.

This coastal town is not as well known as some of the other towns along the Dalmatian Coast and is definitely worth a visit. It’s peninsular Old Town is home to Roman and Venetian ruins, where you can enjoy wandering the traffic free streets experiencing the café culture, visiting the lively market and enjoying the dazzling nightlife.

You can immerse yourself in history by exploring the marble pedestrian friendly streets in the Old Town. Zadar Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, originally built during the Byzantine era in the ninth century and rebuilt with a Romanesque style during the 12thand 13thcentury. You can see examples of both periods within the structure, offering an integrated juxtaposition between the ninth-century remains inside the cathedral with that of the exterior. The Archaeological Museum is the second oldest museum in Croatia and is a great place to get an overview of the influences that shaped the Northern part of Dalmatia. The Church of St. Donatus, formerly known as the Church of the Holy Trinity, is one of the largest examples of Byzantine architecture in the Dalmatia region.

The city is also home to the wonderful and permanent art installation, The Sea Organ, using the waves actions interacting with underwater tubes to create unique sounds. Close by is another marvellous creation, Monument of the Sun, with a spectacular 300 multi-layered glass plates and solar cells which absorb solar energy during the day and create a psychedelic light show come night fall. Brazil bar is a great place to enjoy a drink while taking in what according to Hitchcock is “the most beautiful sunset in the world”, after which you can enjoy the light show from the Monument of to the Sun which sits alongside it.

The most beautiful sunset in the world.

Alfred Hitchcock

Zadar is also the gateway to one of Croatia’s best beaches, a short ferry ride away is Saharun, with unusual white sands and deepening turquoise shallows, apart from July and August it is not enjoyed by many people, so what are you waiting for? 

This part of Dalmatia offers plenty to see inlands as well, with three National Parks; Paklenica, Plitvice Lakes and Krka. You can enjoy hiking, rock climbing and swimming in waterfalls, like the longest waterfall on the Krka River, the Skradinski Buk or Seven Cascades. The fish and seafood is excellent and prices are more favourable that restaurants further down the Coast.

 

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