Travel guide Zagreb, Croatia

1. Trg Kralja Tomislava (King Tomislav Square)

King Tomislav Square is opposite the main train station, where international trains also stop. raceThe present monumental building dates back to 1892, 30 years after the advent of railroads in Croatia. The building features elements from the Renaissance and Neoclassical periods.

King Tomislav was the first Croatian king. The market is dominated by the equestrian statue of King Tomislav. Tomislav defended the Croatian mainland from Hungarian attacks and united the Croatian lands for the first time. He was crowned king in 925 and received papal recognition.

Enter Park Kralja Tomislava. It is a small, rectangular park, one of many green spaces in the Croatian capital. A fountain rises in its center. On the small side opposite the station (north) is the Museum or Art Pavilion.

Art Pavilion was originally erected to serve as the Croatian pavilion of the Budapest Exhibition in 1896. When the exhibition closed, it was moved to Zagreb by train and inaugurated in 1898.

2. Donji Grad

After a long walk through the park and across the street Trg Kralya TomislavaWe continue in the same direction. A new rectangular-shaped park opens up, the same size as the previous one, Park Josipa Jurja Strossmayera.

On the northern side of the park Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts - HAZU. It is housed in a monumental palace, built in neo-Renaissance style in 1880. Upstairs is the Strossmayer Gallery based on the collection of its founder, J. J. Strossmayer.

3. Trg Nikole Zrinskog (Nikola Zrinski Square)

We cross another street and continue to another small rectangular park. This park is one of the oldest parks in the city. It is a favorite place for strolling for the locals. Its alleys are flanked by thick plane trees with white bark, many flowerbeds and busts of Croatian personalities. In the middle is a fountain.
On the left flank of this park, on Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog Street, no. 19, there is Museum of Archaeology, founded in 1846. It houses the permanent exhibition, which is displayed on the second and third floors of the former Vranyczany-Hafner Palace building. Here are the collections: prehistoric, Egyptian, Etruscan, classical antiquity. On the ground floor there is a numismatic collection. I could only visit Lapidarium, located in the courtyard of the muezzin, which presents Roman stone remains from the Roman period.

4. National Theater

At the first intersection, I turned left onto Ulica Nikole Tesle and entered an area with several terraces and restaurants. It was raining harder and harder, but I pulled my hood up and went on my way. I admired that there were many tourists who hadn't given up their walk and visit in the city because of the rain. We are getting closer to the center. Indicator arrows at all intersections guide you to the targeted sights.
Tesla Street continues in almost the same direction as Masarykova Ulica. At the junction of the two streets is the statue of Nikola Tesla (1856 - 1943), which has been placed here since the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great scientist and inventor. Tesla was born in modern-day Croatia, but his nationality is also claimed by Serbs. Tesla became known for his research into alternating current, X-rays, radio waves and remote control. To N. Tesla's discoveries today we owe the possibility of using cell phones and the Internet.
We continue along Masarykova Street until we reach Marshal Tito Square at the National Theater, aka Hrvatsko Narodno Kazaliste u Zagrebu, located at Trg Marsala Tita Marsala Tita nr. 15. The square is named after the famous former president of the RSF Yugoslavia, Marshal Josip Broz Tito. Two famous Viennese architects F. Fellner and H. Helmer, who have designed 40 other European theaters, are the architects of the project plans for the National Theater in Zagreb built in neo-baroque style. The National Theatre was opened in 1895 and houses the National Opera, Ballet and Drama under the same roof.
In front of the theater is The Fountain of Life framed by a small roundabout or Zdenac Zivota.

5. Cathedral and Upper Town

I'll head slowly towards the center. Turn back on Masarykova and Tesla, then left through the terraces to the Ilica Ulica, which to the right gives in the center of the center, Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica, which is also the fictitious border with the Upper Town.

We start from Kaptol Square, one of the oldest and liveliest places in the city. The historic atmosphere is strong here, with chic cafes, old buildings and the imposing silhouette of the cathedral dominating the whole area.

Marijina Uznesenja Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption) is the most important religious building in Croatia and a symbol of the city. With its Gothic towers visible from almost any point in Zagreb, the cathedral impresses both from the outside and the elegant interior, with its stained-glass windows, richly decorated altars and solemn atmosphere. It is a place worth visiting not only for its architectural value but also for its central role in the city's history.

From the Kaptol area, the road continues towards Upper Town (Gornji Grad)climbing the picturesque Stube Bishupa Duhaa narrow and photogenic staircase connecting the lower town to the medieval core. The climb is short but offers beautiful views and a pleasant transition to the quieter and more historic part of Zagreb.

At the top, discover one of the city's most famous sights: St. Mark's Churchfamous for its colorful roof decorated with the coat of arms of Croatia and Zagreb. The surrounding square is calm and elegant, surrounded by historic buildings housing important state institutions.

Within walking distance Lotršččak Towerone of the city's best preserved medieval remains. The view of Zagreb from here is excellent, and the centuries-old tradition of cannon firing at midday adds a special charm to the visit. The Upper Town is the perfect place to understand the soul of Zagreb, where history, architecture and bohemian atmosphere blend harmoniously.

6. Trg Bana Jelacic (Ban Josip Jelacic Square)

Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica has been Zagreb's commercial center since 1641, with many fairs taking place here over the years. It is a wide square, surrounded by imposing 19th century buildings. The square got its present-day name in 1848 in memory of ban Josip Jelacic. He was a general in the Austrian army and Guvenator (ban) of Croatia from 1848 to 1859. Jelacic helped Austria defeat the Hungarian revolution of 1848 in the hope of achieving greater autonomy for Croatia. He is considered a national hero in Croatia. His portrait also appears on the 20-kuna note. Ecvestra statue of the Jelacic ban is the work of the Austrian sculptor A. Fernkorn. It was placed here in 1866, but removed by the communists in 1947. A public petition called for the statue to be returned to the square in 1990. Originally it was placed facing north with the sword pointing against Austria and Hungary, then its orientation was changed to today's position to avoid diplomatic conflicts with the Hungarian state.