What to see in Zadar
Tourists come to Chovatia, and central Dalmatia in particular, for a beach holiday. However, the sights of the main and largest city of the region, Zadar, are also worth the attention of travellers.
It is worth mentioning that travellers have different reactions to Zadar, it is not the kind of town that evokes a definite “WOW!!!”. If a tourist is not an avid lover of history and antiquities, he or she will find a tour around the city very interesting, but for such a tourist, a beach break and a “highlight” to traditional spa attractions will suffice.
However, if you enjoy the traditionally rich architecture of the Balkans, you’ll love Zadar and the historic buildings won’t be monotonous.
What is worth seeing in Zadar?
Old Town
The old town is not that hard to find. The historical part of Zadar, where almost all the places of interest are concentrated, is situated on the peninsula, and you can get there through the Main Gate.
In the Old Town tourists can find not only interesting antiquities, but also walk through the colorful markets, sit in interesting cafes and just enjoy a stay in a place with unique Balkan charm.
Sea Organ
A most interesting sight to be found only in Zadar. This unusual “musical instrument” on which the sea “plays” attracts numerous tourists. Almost every visitor comes to see this spectacle and to listen to the fascinating sounds made by the metal plates embedded in the embankment during the surf.
The best time to listen to the music of the sea is at sunset. Then you can walk just 50 metres and see another of the town’s sights, the like of which is not to be found outside of Zadar.
Light installation
This very interesting attraction is rather plain by day: the complex of solar panels, 20 meters in diameter, reminds of a huge frying pan. When the sun goes down the whole attraction becomes a full-blown spectacle, when the energy stored in the batteries triggers a light show.
Roman Forum
Remains of ancient buildings are not uncommon in the Balkans. In Zadar are the ruins of a forum from the time when this territory was ruled by the Roman Empire. It will not take long to see it, as only the ruins of the altar and the two towers are preserved. But the structures, which are 2,000 years old and still preserve the spirit of history, are still worth a visit.
Church of St. Donat
A trip to Zadar will be an excellent gift for lovers of temple architecture. There are an enormous number of churches in the city. However, for most tourists, seeing them all would be boring and quite tedious. For the unsophisticated person, these buildings are monotonous and one might lose interest after seeing one or two churches.
The church of St. Donatus is one of the biggest in the city. It is a very interesting object of Balkan temple architecture from the pre-Romanesque period. The church is included practically in all sightseeing itineraries. It is free to visit the temple. Only the ascent to the tower is chargeable, but the view from the tower is not as spectacular as the one from the city tower.
City tower
The 56-metre tower in the Old City is a must-see for any visitor – unless you have a fear of heights. The lattice floor of the tower’s upper storey might make it difficult to enjoy the marvellous views. There is a charge of €2 to visit the tower.