24 Hours in Zagreb
Morning glory
If you have reached our capital in the early hours of the morning then rise and shine for the smell of coffee is only a stone throw away and we recommend a hot sip to start your day. Let it be known, coffee culture is almost biblical in Croatia. And if you happen to arrive on a Saturday morning, then you’re just in time for Špica, which is where local city folk head out for coffee, mingling and giggling as they talk about their week, hot city topics and more. Dress code is pretty suave as this is when there is a true buzz in the air, and it’s right in the heart of town. Simply find a seat on Flower Square, order your beverage and see how the citizens of Zagreb breathe, sensing that impulse of the city, there and then.
Next on the agenda, head on up to the Dolac Market, the heart and soul of the city and the place to taste authentic fresh food from nearby town surroundings. The market is out in the open and if you head down to the indoor level, the dairy section is filled with specialty cheeses and creams. We suggest you buy a fine loaf of real Zagorje corn bread, and then add some cheese and sour cream for your very first breakfast in Zagreb.
After Dolac, head to the corner of Cesarčeva and Bakačeva Street where you will find a scaled model of Zagreb in a nutshell; a so called mini me version of the city. With the model you will get a perspective of what the centre of Zagreb looks like and where exactly you will pass whilst promenading the city streets.
Next on the agenda is a mere walk up to the Zagreb Cathedral fittingly named the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon entry, visit its Treasury filled with fascinating liturgical relics whilst the Sacristy holds an altarpiece depicting the Calvary, a discernible artwork from the famous painter Albrecht Dürer.
Heading away from the cathedral across Skalinska Street and Krvavi Most, your next destination ought to be the Stone Gate which is one of the age old entrances to the Upper Town. Whilst on the way, do check for the exact time of day by looking at the Sun Clock on Tkalčićeva Street; it was made by Božidar Jušić in 1955 as part of his Masters studies. The Stone Gate is one of the symbols of the city of Zagreb and it maintains a painting of Our Lady which is one of the oldest of its kind and owned by the city. In 1931, it was adorned with a crown of gold and gems. As tradition would have it, light a candle whilst at the Stone Gate to help spread peace and solidarity throughout the world.
City Essentials