CROATIA: Zagreb

Croatia has a population of about 4 million people (2022). Zagreb is the capital with a population of about 680K (2022). 

The city of Zagreb is divided into 2 sections - Upper Town and Lower Town. 

Connecting the two towns is the world's shortest funicular, at 66 metres. 

It was constructed in 1888 and is the town's first public transit. It takes 60 seconds to get from the top to the bottom. 

Or vice versa. 

One of the highlights of the Upper Town is St Mark's Church.

The church was constructed in the 13th century, and is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.  

The tile roof was added in 1880 and has the mediaeval coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia on the left side, and the emblem of Zagreb on the right side.  

The church sits in a square with the Croatian Parliament and the old City Hall. 

Gas lamps are still lit by hand every evening. 

Also in the Upper Town is the Lotrscak Tower which was built in the middle of the 13th century to protect the south city gate. Legend has it that in the mid 15th century the Turks were preparing to invade the city. The locals had one cannon, and one cannon ball. They figured they were doomed. 

Desperate times call for desperate measure, so, they fired the one canon's one cannonball at noon.

The Turks were camped across the Sava River enjoying their lunch getting ready for their victory. As luck would have it, the canon ball landed on the lunch table, hitting a rooster, blowing it to bits. 

The Turks figured this was a warning shot and were so demoralized and frightened at the strength and accuracy of the inhabitants, that they decided not to invade and instead retreated. 

So the city was saved by the one canon, one cannonball, one rooster and a lucky landing.

For the last hundred years, every day at noon people gather under the tower to wait for the cannon to be fired. 

That's one version. The other version is that the canon is used to synchronize the clocks at noon. 

Bottom line, the guy firing the canon is a rock star, and the crowds below gather at noon and cheer after the canon goes off. Apparently that is the only function of the job and everyone wants this government job. 

Or so the legend goes. 

In the Lower Town is the main square called Trg Bana Jelacica. It is named after the 19th century ban (governor) who led Croatian troops into an unsuccessful battle with Hungary. 

Dolac Market has been around since the 1930's. Vendors come from around Croatia to sell fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, flowers, etc. Every day at 2 it closes and gets cleaned up, to start again the next day. 

This statue depicts the early vendors that would get up early and catch the train to the market to sell their wares. 

Croatia has had a turbulent past for centuries. During WWII tunnels were built in the city. They are now used as routes through the city and host festivals, music events and markets. 

This Austro-Hungarian neo-baroque building is the entrance to the National Theatre.  

I am not sure what this building is but I thought it was very pretty. 

The Esplanade Zagreb Hotel is an iconic and landmark hotel in Zagreb. It was built in 1920's close to the train station as a luxury hotel for the Orient Express Passengers. Over the decades it has hosted a who's who list of international guests from political leaders, to royalty, to movie stars and singers.

And it is a great place to get caught up on blog posts.