Zagreb
Travel Guide > Europe > Croatia > Zagreb
Introduction
Zagreb is Croatia's capital as well as its cultural, scientific and economic heart. Its compact city centre is easy to navigate on foot or by tram if you are feeling weary. The city is divided into three parts. The medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town) is home to the Presidential Palace, historic St Mark's church and numerous museums and galleries. 19th century Donji Grad (Lower Town) is a much more lively area, packed with cafés, theatres and parks. 20th century Novi Zagreb (New Zagreb) is full of high-rises and has little to offer tourists.
Neighbourhoods
Sights and Activities
Museums
The museums in Zagreb are usually open Tue-Fri 10.00-18.00, Sat 10.00-13.00, Sun closed.
Valuable historical collections are found in the Croatian Historical Museum, the Museum of the City of Zagreb, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Ethnographic Museum, the Croatian School Museum, the Croatian Hunting Museum, the Croatian Sports Museum, the Croatian Post and Telecommunications Museum, the HAZU (Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences) Glyptotheque (collection of monuments), the HAZU Graphics Cabinet.
The Croatian Museum of Natural Sciences (Demetrova Street 1) holds the world's most extensive collection of the remains of Neanderthal man found on one site - the remains of the pre-historic man of Krapina and stone weapon and tools.
The Technical Museum (Savska Street 18) keeps the oldest preserved machine in this area, dating from 1830 which still operates.
Many visitors find the Mimara Museum (Roosevelt Square 5), housing the donation by Wiltrud and Ante Topic Mimara, very attractive. Of the total of 3,700 most various works of art, more than 1,500 exhibits constitute permanent holdings, dating from the pre-historic period up to the 20th century.
The HAZU Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters (Zrinski Square 11) offers permanent holdings presenting European paintings from the 14th to the 19th centuries, and the Mestrovic Studio, (Mletacka Street 8) with sculptures, drawings, lithography portfolios and other items, is a donation of this great artist to his homeland.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (Catherine's Square 2) follows and presents contemporary trends in fine arts.
The Museum and Gallery Centre (Jezuitski Square 4) introduces on various occasions the Croatian and foreign cultural and artistic heritage.
The Art Pavilion (King Tomislav Square 22) is the oldest exhibition complex in the Slavic south with regularly organized exhibitions. The exhibitions are also held in the impressive Mestrovic's building on Hrvatskih Velikana Square - the Home of the Croatian Fine Artists.
The Museum of Naive Art (Cirilometodska Street 3) disposes of more than one thousand works by a hundred and odd authors of the Croatian naive art. The World Centre "Wonder of Croatian Naive Art" (Ban Jelacic Square 12) exhibits masterpieces of the Croatian naive art as well as works of new generation of artists. The Modern Gallery (Hebrangova Street 1) comprises all relevant fine artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theatres and stages. The Croatian National Theatre is the most impressive building among them; the most famous of concert halls is the Concert Hall "Vatroslav Lisinski", named after the composer of the first Croatian opera.
For more info about each museum check www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
Events and Festivals
Zagreb hosts many domestic and international events which attract visitors from all over the world.
Film festivals are becoming increasingly popular. They show non-Holywood films rarely shown in cineplexes.
Animafest: The World Festival of Animated Film used to run every second year, but since 2005 it is annual. It is dedicated to short animated films and longer feature films. The short edition of 18th Animafest will be held in Zagreb from May 31 to June 5, 2008.
Weather
Getting There
By Plane
Zagreb International Airport (ZAG), also known as "Pleso", is located 14 km south of the city.
By Train
By Car
By Bus
By Boat
Eat
Drink
Work
Learn
Keep Connected
Internet
All hotels and hostels have internet access. These days, many have WiFi as well, although WiFi is still a bit on the expensive side. There are several internet cafés in the centre of Zagreb.
- Surf@ internet point, Tkalćićeva 13/ 2nd floor. Open: Mon- Sat 09.30- 20.00; Closed on Sunday. Internet, Chat, Video- chat, VoIp, Photography&data download and print. It's also a gallery presenting Croatian artists and a BookCrossing Zone (check OBCZ finder- Croatia).
- Cyber Cafe Sublink, Teslina 12
- Ergonet, Badalićeva 26c
- Iskoninternet - KIC, Preradovićeva 5/I
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This is version 8. Last edited at 6:02 on May 15, 08 by GeoBot (+57). 1 article links to this page.
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