Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

72  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

f Rijeka R Church of the Assumption
Crkva Uznesenja Blažene Djevice
Founded by the Liburnians and conquered by the Celts, Marije
this town became a Roman city called Tarsatica. Over the Pavla Rittera Vitezovića 3. Tel (051) 214
177. Open 8am–noon, 4–6pm.
centuries it frequently changed hands, and finally came
under the rule of the Habsburgs. In 1719, to develop its The Church of the Assumption,
once a cathedral, preserves little
maritime role, Ferdinand of Habsburg declared Rijeka a of its original 13th-century
free port. The city became part of the kingdom of Hungary aspect. It was renovated in
in 1870 and its economic importance continued to grow. the Baroque style in 1695
Together with shipyards and industry, Rijeka is one of and altered in 1726 with
Croatia’s main ports and a key rail and road junction. In Rococo details, and a
16th-century rose window
February and March each year, Rijeka hosts Croatia’s was inserted. Inside, the altars,
largest carnival celebrations. some paintings and the
chancel are from the Baroque
R Church of St Nicholas period. The bell tower bears
Pravoslavna crkva hram the date of its construction
svetog Nikolaja (1377); the upper part is in
Ignacija Henkea 2. Tel (051) 335 399. Gothic style.
Open 8am–1pm, 6–6:40pm daily.
This church, built by the Ortho- R St Vitus Cathedral
dox community in 1790, contains Katedrala sv. Vida
fine icons from Vojvodina, Serbia. Trg Grivica. Tel (051) 330 879.
Open 7am–noon, 4:30–7pm.
P City Tower The Church of St Vitus, patron
Gradski Toranj saint of the city, is now the
About halfway along the Korzo cathedral. This large Baroque
is the City Tower, first built in church was built between
the Middle Ages. It has been 1638 and 1742 by the Jesuits.
remodelled several times, Baroque altars and a
most significantly at the Gothic crucifix from
The Korzo, a pedestrian avenue with turn of the 18th century. the 13th century
19th-century buildings The clock dates from adorn the interior.
the 17th century
Exploring Rijeka and the dome was E Maritime and
Over recent decades, the city added in 1890. An Detail of the History Museum of
has expanded along the coast imposing building, it is Civic Tower the Croatian Littoral
and into the surrounding hills. decorated with coats of Pomorski i povijesni
However, its Central European arms, including those of the muzej Hrvatskog primorja
atmosphere is still preserved city and the Habsburgs, and Muzejski trg 1/1. Tel (051) 213 578.
in the majestic 19th-century busts of the emperors Leopold I Open 9am–4pm Mon, 9am–8pm
buildings along the Korzo and and Charles VI. Tue–Sat, 4–8pm Sun. &
the Riva, two broad avenues This is the oldest museum in
south of the Old Town (Stari P Town Hall Rijeka, founded in 1876, but
Grad), built on land reclaimed Municipij since 1955 housed in the
from the sea. The Korzo is the Trg Riječke rezolucije.
heart of the city, lined with cafés, In 1883, the 14th-century
bars, restaurants and shops. Augustinian monastery was
turned into the Town Hall. It takes
R Capuchin Church of up three sides of the square and
Our Lady of Lourdes is now used as offices.
Kapucinska Crkva Gospe Lurdske
Kapucinske stube 5. Tel (051) 335 233. T Roman Arch
Open 7am–noon, 4–8pm daily. Stara vrata
North of Žabica Square (Trg Trg Ivana Koblera.
Žabica), the church was built In an alley leading from the north
between 1904 and 1929 on the side of the square are the remains
orders of the abbot of the neigh- of a Roman arch, which was
bouring Capuchin monastery probably a gate to the city. It is a
on his return from a pilgrimage simple stone structure. Nearby,
to Lourdes, to mark the 50th excavations have unearthed the
anniversary of the Virgin’s foundations of a perimeter wall Gothic crucifix in the Cathedral of
miraculous apparition there. from the Roman period. St Vitus
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp226–8 and pp238–40

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