Zadar

For centuries the capital city of Dalmatia and today the centre of the region. Its attractiveness is due greatly to its fantastic natural position in the very middle of the Adriatic coast, and to the four National Parks surrounding it: Plitvica Lakes, Paklenica mountain, the unique Rivera Krka waterfalls and a string of wondrous islands called Kornati. No less attractive are the nature Parks of Telascica, the canyon of the Zrmanja River and the largest natural lake in Croatia –Lake Vrana in the vicinity of Biograd. It is possible to reach the central Zadar Riviera region equally easily from all directions and by all means of transport.

HISTORY

Zadar, the city with a history that goes back more than 3000 years, founded in the central area of the Croatian coast, surrounded by islands, with a wealthy hinterland and a natural protective port has been destroyed in wars and earthquakes and each time rebuilt, becoming ever more attractive and wealthier. The first inhabitants made first written reports about life in the Jadera settlement in the area of today’s Zadar – the Liburnia tribe in the 4th century B.C. The settlement developed through the ages and took on the features of a city under Roman rule in the 2nd century A.D. In traversing the historical changes it was re-named Issa and then Zara, becoming the capital city of Dalmatia and the administrative seat of the Byzantine theme . The succession of rulers throughout the centuries: ranging from Turks, Venetians, Napoleon, Croat-Hungarian kings, Austrian and Italian rule, right up to the annexation into the Federative Yugoslavia, made the city constantly change its character and function. Thanks to the readiness of its populace to preserve the city's identity throughout the centuries, Zadar has managed to survive and become more beautiful and stable at each instance.

Cities usually have but one patron saint, however, owing to the violence of invasions past, Zadar appointed no fewer than four patron saints that, the inhabitants believed, protected it from destruction.
St. Simon (Holder of God) – the most popular patron saint of Zadar. According to legend he held Jesus upon his birth in Jerusalem, and is therefore considered the child bearer's patron and the patron saint of mothers wishing to bear a son. The body is to be found in a gold and silver coffin today originating from 1380 and situated above the main altar, which Queen Elizabeth had made, after giving birth to three daughters, so that she might give birth to a son. The coffin is the most valuable sample of medieval goldsmith workmanship in Croatia. It is opened on St. Simon’s Day, 8th October.

St. Krsevan (Grisogono) – is the main patron saint of the city. St. Krševan's day, 24th November, is also the City of Zadar Day. In the form of a knight in armour on horseback he is to be found on the city’s coat of arms and flag, as well as on a number of monuments and buildings within the city (The Land Gate, The Sea(farer's) gate, the Town Hall…). The Church of St. Krsevan is one of the most beautiful monuments of Romanesque architecture in Croatia, and the relics are a part of the Permanent Ecclesiastical Art Exhibition.

St. Anastasia (Stosija) – In Biograd and in Zadar she is celebrated on the 15th January but as the day of her martyrdom falls on Christmas day, it is believed that she was the midwife at Jesus’ birth and is therefore presented with a pair of scissors in hand. Owing to this symbol she is also believed to be the patron of newspaper censorship, and, in more modern times, she is appealed to in cases of headaches and chest diseases. In Greece, it was believed that she relieved poisoning and the Slavs believed that she broke chains to set one free.

St. Zoilo – a less renowned saint of Zadar. He was a priest in a city close to Aquila in the 3rd century A. D. After St. Grisogono had died his martyr's death it was he who retrieved the body from the sea, which had, mysteriously, been reunited with the severed head, and he buried the body at his own home. Apart from this deed he also placed three martyr sisters (Irena, Kiona and Agape) who St. Anastasia recommended to his welfare under his protection. Due to all his good deeds his body was moved to Zadar where he is worshipped as one of the patron saints.

WHERE TO EAT

LOCAL TRADITIONAL CUSINE
“ ALBIN “ Put Dikla 47 , 23000 Zadar , Tel: 385 23 331137
“ KORNAT ” Liburnska obala 6, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 254501
“ MALO MISTO “ Jurja Dalmatinca-Matejeva”, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 301831
“ LUNGO MARE “ Obala kneza Trpimira 27, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 331533
“ NIKO “ Obala kneza Domagoja 9, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 331138
“ ZADAR JADERA “ Brne Krnarutica 4, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 251859

FISH & SEAFOOD
“ FOSA “ Fosa 2, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 314421
“ NIKO “ Obala kneza Domagoja 9, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 331138

BUSINESS
“ KORNAT ” Liburnska obala 6, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 254501
“ VIVALDI “ Vladana Desnice 16 (Hotel President), 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 333696
“ FOSA “ Fosa 2, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 314421
“ LUNGO MARE “ Obala kneza Trpimira 27, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 331533
“ MAESTRAL “ Ivana Mazuranica bb, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 236186

KONOBA (Konoba are the best places to experience typical Dalmatian cuisine).
“ STOMORICA “ Stomorica 12, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 315946
“ ZVELTI BRABOR “ Ispod dvorina 6, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 98 403322
“ NA PO URE “ Spire Brusine 8, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 312004

PIZZERIA
“ CANZONA “ Stomorica 8, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 212081
“ SIME “ Matije Gupca 15, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 334848
“ NADO “ Ivana brkanovica 3, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 305555
“ PET BUNARA “ Ulica obitelji Stratico 1, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 224010

MUSEUMS

“ ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM ” Trg opatice Cike 1, 23000 Zadar, Tel: 385 23 250542
“ GALLERY OF ARTS “ Meduliceva 2, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 211174
“ NATIONAL MUSEUM “ Poljana pape Aleksandra III bb, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 251851

CHURCHES

“ CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF HEALTH “
“ CHURCH OF ST MARY DE PUSTERLA”
“ ST ANDREW´S AND ST PETER THE ELDER´S “
“ ST CHRYSOGONUS CHURCH “
“ ST DIMITRI´S CHURCH “
“ ST DOMINIC´S CHURCH “
“ ST ELIAS´S CHURCH “
“ ST FRANCIS´S CHURCH & FRANCISCAN MONASTERY “
“ ST LAURENCE´S CHURCH “
“ ST MARY´S CHURCH “
“ ST MICHAEL´S CHURCH “
“ ST NICHOLAS´S CHURCH “
“ ST SIMEON´S CHURCH “
“ ST TOMA´S CHURCH “
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THEATRES
“ CROATIAN THEATRE HOUSE “ Siroka ulica 8, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 314586
hkk-zd@zd.t-com.hr
“ PUPPET THEATRE ZADAR “ Sokolska 1, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 319181
kazaliste-lutaka-zd@zd.t-com-hr

CINEMA
“ POBJEDA “ Jurja Dalmatinca Matejeva 2, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 214362
“ GOTHAM “ Ulica Domovinskog rata 1 A, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 200289

CLUBS
“ MAYA PUB “ Liburnska obala 6, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 251710
“ THE GARDEN “ Bedemi zadarskih pobuna bb, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 254509
“ CITY CLUB FORUM “ Marka Marulica, 23000 Zadar
“ GOTHAM CLUB “ Marka Oreškovića 1, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 200289
“ CORSO “ Mihovila Pavlinovica 4, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 98 1827741
“ BRAZIL “ Prve hrvatske citaonice bb, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 91 2085561

INTERNET CLUBS
“ HG SPOT “ Stomorica 8, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 302270
“ LIBAR “ Stjepana Radica 11 B, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 301135
“ NEW YORK PIZZA “ Polacisce 3, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 301972
CASINO
“ CASINO ZADAR “ Ivana Mazuranica bb, 23000 Zadar Tel: 385 23 239400

NATIONAL PARKS

“ NATIONAL PARK KORNATI “ Butina 2, 22243 Murter Tel: 385 22 435740
np-kornati@di.t-com.hr www.kornati.hr
“ NATIONAL PARK PAKLENICA “ Dr. franje Tudjmana 14 A Tel: 385 23 369155
np-paklenica@zd.t-com.hr www.paklenica.hr
“ NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE “ 53231 Plitvicka jezera Tel: 385 53 751014
info@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr www.np-plitvice.hr
“ NATIONAL PARK SJEVERNI VELEBIT “ Obala kralja Zvonimira 6, 53270 Senj Tel: 385 53 884552
np.sjeverni.velebit@gs.t-com.hr www.np-sjeverni-velebit.hr
“ NATIONAL PARK KRKA “ Trg Ivana Pavla II 5, 22000 Sibenik Tel: 385 22201777
www.npkrka.hr

ACCOMMODATION  Zadar – Biograd – Pag

ZADAR

HOTEL KOLOVARE ***