Zadar is a city of long and turbulent history that hides many interesting stories, monuments and historical remains from different periods. From ancient times, locals have known how to preserve and nurture tradition, and they still do even today. Zadar’s museums will take you back to some past times for a moment, tell you untold stories, bring you closer to the former way of life and give you an unforgettable day. We bring you a list of museums in Zadar so that you can choose easier which one to visit!
1. Archaeological museum
The Archaeological Museum in Zadar was founded back in 1832 and is one of the oldest and most important museums in Croatia. In its beginnings, the museum material was located in the church of St. Donatus, and from 1974 until today the museum exhibits are displayed in a building located next to the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary. The Archaeological Museum preserves over 100,000 objects from all historical periods, starting from the Paleolithic until the end of the 11th century. The permanent exhibition is divided into three different parts: prehistoric, medieval and ancient period. On the ground floor of the museum there is a medieval collection in which are exhibited valuable objects such as ciboriums, altar partitions, decorative pieces of architecture and sarcophaghus. Among the most valuable grave finds are the grave of an old Croatian warrior and the grave of “Mother with Child” from the Nin-Ždrijac cemetery, dated to the middle of the 9th century. The antique collection is located on the first floor of the museum and there are ceramic, stone, glass and metal objects from the period of Roman rule that testify the culture and customs of this period.
On the second floor of the museum you can get acquainted with the way of life in the Stone and Metal Ages (from around 10,000 BC until the arrival of the Romans). Here you will find objects from the everyday life of people from that period, such as scrapers, spikes, ceramic bowls, jewelry, etc. Especially interesting are the rhytons-bowls on four legs.
If you want to get acquainted with the way of life in this area from the earliest times, we definitely recommend you to visit this museum because it will become clearer to you how culturally and historically rich Zadar is.
2. Permanent exhibition of church art “Gold and Silver of Zadar”
The permanent exhibition of church art, known as the “Gold and Silver of Zadar” is one of the most valuable exhibitions in Croatia. This exhibition preserves some of the most precious sacral works of art. It is located in the building of the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary and the Benedictine nuns can guide you through this exhibition and reveal some interesting facts related to the exhibits. Crosses, ciboriums and chalices are on display, mainly from the parish churches of the Zadar Archdiocese, as well as relics and remains of the bones of saints who are especially revered in Zadar, which gives this exhibition a special religious significance. Among the most significant works of art are a pectoral cross probably from the 8th century and silver chests with relics of different saints from the 12th century.
3. Museum of Ancient glass
The Museum of Ancient Glass is a unique museum not only in Croatia but also in the world. It is a specialized museum with over 5,000 glass objects from antiquity. The museum was opened in 2009 in the former 19th century Cosmacendi Palace and has a permanent exhibition presented in 8 units. All objects were found in Zadar area and testify to the way of life in this region. In addition, it is interesting to note that the museum has its own glass workshop in which replicas of antique glass objects are made in the traditional way of hand-blowing glass.
It is interesting to note that the museum has its own glass workshop where are made replicas of antique glass. In the souvenir shop, which is also part of the museum, you can buy these handmade replicas, but also unique jewelry that is also made in the museum using the fusion technique. Unique in many ways, this museum has attracted many visitors from all over the world since its opening, and many compare it to the world-famous Museum of Glass on the island of Murano near Venice.
4. Museum of illusions
If you want to have fun and learn something about human perception and illusions, we recommend that you visit the Museum of Illusions in Zadar. This is the perfect place to spend a fun day with your friends and family, and is especially interesting to children as it hides many puzzles and logic games. We definitely recommend that you bring your camera because only here you will be able to take photos that can seem a bit confusing! Play with imagination, gravity and perception and peek into the world of illusions!
5. Zadar city museum
The Museum of the City of Zadar was founded in 1960. It is located near the Sea Gate, and preserves cultural objects from the end of the 13th century until the present day. The cultural-historical collection boasts old furniture, photographs, postcards, reconstructed models of the city, small objects for everyday use, etc. The Zadar city Museum, along with the Department of Natural History and Ethnology, is part of the National Museum of Zadar.
6. Ethnological department of the National Museum
The ethnological department operates within the Zadar National Museum. The permanent exhibition is located in the City guard on the National Square, and shows objects related to the traditional culture of Dalmatia. Here you can find items for processing textile fibers, shoemaking tools and tools for making shoes at home, pottery equipment, items and tools that were used to make barrels, baskets and knitwear, and tools for making traditional musical instruments. There is also and quite valuable collection of folk costumes worn in past in Zadar region.
7. Natural History Department of the National Museum
Natural History Department is just like Ethnological, part of the National Museum. It has been operating since 1905, and it preserves the historical remains of natural history collections that have been collected in Zadar for several centuries. Among the most valuable historical collections, are the herbarium of Domenik Pappafava, which was created at the beginning of the 19th century and is one of the oldest such collections in Croatia. As many plant and animal species are under special protection today, the material of the Natural History department is filled with photographs of plants and animals in their natural environment. The department is located in a part of Providur’s palace.
8. Treasury of Franciscan Monastery
As part of the Franciscan monstery is a treasury that preserves the most valuable works of Croatian medieval and Renaissance art. Among the most significant exhibits is a painted Romanesque crucifix from the 12th century. The treasury also contains the only preserved bell from the Zadar Archdiocese, which the Austro-Hungarian monarchy failed to melt for the construction of cannons. Sacristy of the Church of St. Francis was a significant place where the Zadar Peace Treaty was concluded between the Venetian Republic and the Croatian-Hungarian King Louis, by which the Venetian Republic renounced its possessions in Dalmatia.
9. Rector’s palace
The Rector’s Palace in Zadar is mentioned in historical sources as early as the 13th century, and the main room of the palace is a large hall which at that time was called the City Hall because the city council was held here. The palace is spread over 2000 square meters and there is a multimedia hall, occasional exhibitions of world famous artists (Dali, Andy Warhol, etc.) and Six salon stories that display six historical periods in the city.
Comment (0)