Page 96 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

94  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

1 Zadar

Originally Illyrians inhabited this narrow peninsula,
but its present layout dates back to Roman rule, when
the straight roads and forum were built. It became an
important municipium, and a port for the trading of timber
and wine. In the Middle Ages it was the main base for the
Byzantine fleet. Venice and the king of Hungary fought
over Zadar in the 12th–13th centuries but in 1409, King
Ladislaus of Hungary sold his Dalmatian islands and cities
to Venice for 100,000 ducats. Zadar became Zara and
enjoyed a spell of prosperity; churches and palaces were
built. After World War I, Zadar was ceded to Italy by the
Treaty of Rapallo, but many Italians left after the forming
of Yugoslavia in 1947. Zadar was repeatedly bombed Roman arch forming the Sea Gate
during World War II and suffered considerable damage.
P Sea Gate
Vrata sv. Krševana
R Church of St Simeon This complex construction is the
Sv. Šime result of rebuilding work carried
Trg Petra Zoranića 7. Tel (023) 211 out by Michele Sanmicheli
705. Open 8:30am–noon Mon–Sat. in 1573 on a Roman arch
Originally constructed in dedicated to the Sergi family.
Romanesque style, the church On the seaward side is the lion
was rebuilt after 1632 to house of St Mark and a memorial stone
the remains of the saint, which recalling the Battle of Lepanto
are kept in a silver reliquary. (1571). On the inner side of the
This impressive work, nearly 2m gate is a stone commemorating
(6 ft) long, was made between Pope Alexander III’s visit in 1177.
1377 and 1380 by Francesco da
Milano and bears reliefs showing R Church of St Chrysogonus
scenes of St Simeon’s life. Sv. Krševan
The medieval tower, Bablja Kula, part of Poljana pape Aleksandra III.
the ancient wall R Museum of Ancient Glass Closed for restoration.
Muzej antičkog stakla Prior to AD 1000 a church
P Land Gate and Walls Poljana Zemaljskog odbora 1. and monastery were built by
Kopnena vrata Tel (023) 363 831. Open summer: Benedictines on the site of
The Land Gate was built in 1543 9am–9pm daily; winter: 9am–4pm the Roman market. While the
by the great Veronese architect Mon–Fri. & ∑ mas-zadar.hr church, rebuilt in 1175, has
Michele Sanmicheli as the Housed in the restored survived with few alterations,
entrance to the city. The gate Cosmacendi Palace, this the monastery was destroyed
has a large central aperture and museum displays a large in World War II. At the height of
two smaller openings at the number of ancient Roman the monastery’s splendour it
sides, divided by four white glass objects found on possessed a rich library and a
stone pilasters supporting four archaeological sites in Zadar scriptorium, famous for its
half-columns. and its surroundings. transcribed and illuminated
Above the main gate is a relief works. The three-aisle church,
of St Chrysogonus on horseback P People’s Square
and the lion of St Mark, symbol Narodni trg
of Venetian rule. Beyond the The Town Hall, which was built
gate are a few remains of the in 1934, faces the square, as
ancient walls, the former does the Renaissance City
Venetian arsenal, and Liberation Loggia (Gradska loža) built by
Square (Zoranićev trg or Trg Michele Sanmicheli in 1565 as
Petra Zoranića) with a Roman the city courts. It is now used
column in the centre. for exhibitions.
On one side of the square Nearby, the 16th-century
stands the medieval tower of Town Guard Palace houses
Bablja kula. At the base are five the Ethnographic Museum,
fountains (Trg pet bunara), with collections of costumes
which once supplied water and objects from the
to the city of Zadar. entire county. Church of St Chrysogonus
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp228–30 and pp240–45

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