Zagreb Attractions

Andautonia Archaeological Park

Near the village of Scitarjevo, close to Zagreb, are the remains of the ancient Roman town of Andautonia which have been excavated and provide a fascinating tourist attraction. Andautonia was a prominent administrative, economic, cultural and religious centre about 400 years ago. Archaeologists are still excavating the site, but visitors can view a 26,910 square foot (2,500 sq m) area of the Roman City including parts of the main street, city baths, colonnades and side streets. Tourists can also visit the present-day village of Scitarjevo, which offers examples of typical rural farms with their characteristic wooden houses.

Address: Archaeological Museum: 19 Nikola Subic Zrinski Square; Telephone: (0)1 487 3101; Website: www.amz.hr; Transport: Regular buses run to the site from Zapruðe and Velika Gorica; Opening time: Archaeological Park: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm (May to 23 September). Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (24 September to October). Museum: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission: 20 kn (adults), 5 kn (concessions)

Croatian History Museum

The building that houses Croatia’s history is itself a part of that history. Sited in the historical town centre, it is the beautiful Baroque palace, Vojkovic-Orsic-Rauch, built at the end of the 18th century and formerly the private residence of three successive baronial families. In the late 1930s the palace became the residence of Zagreb’s mayors, before being designated as a repository for the historical relics of the city. It currently houses more than 140,000 artefacts in various collections, from stone monuments to fine art, religious artefacts to heraldry. The exhibitions are not permanent but constantly changing so that all the collections get an airing.

Address: Matoševa 9; Telephone: (0)1 4851 900; Website: www.hismus.hr; Opening time: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission: 10 kn (adults), 5 kn (concessions). Free on Mondays

Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb

Croatian National Theatre

The building housing the Croatian National Theatre is as much a national treasure as the world-class dramatic, opera, music and ballet productions that take place on its stage. Construction began on the theatre building in 1894. Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac painted the ceremonial curtain while Viennese artist Alexander Goltz decorated the ceiling of the auditorium. The building was officially opened by Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz-Joseph I at the end of 1895. The theatre is constantly busy with full performing arts programmes.

Address: Trg Marsala Tita 15; Telephone: (0)1 482 8532

Town squares

Praska Street in the lower part of old Zagreb leads on to a sequence of attractive park squares, each flaunting their own attractions and worth a walking tour. Zrinski Square features a music pavilion dating from 1895 and fountains, with the Archaeological Museum at No.17. This square also features a row of busts of distinguished Croatians and the palace of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences (1876), which houses the Strossmayer Gallery of old masters. On Strossmayer Square is a monument to bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer, founder of the Academy, and several other historic buildings. Tomislav Square features the Art Pavilion, fronted by a monument to Croatian Renaissance painter Andrija Medulic. King Tomislav rises on horseback at the southern end of the square. Starcevic Square is home to the City Library and Hotel Esplanade, and gives access to the Botanical Gardens and Frane Bulic monument. In Marulic Square the University Library building stands as a magnificent example of Art Nouveau. Mimara Museum is on Roosevelt Square, and the neo-Baroque Croatian National Theatre stands on Marshal Tito Square.