Zadar's Heritage

Zadar gained its urban structure as early as Roman times; in the time of Caesar the town was fortified, while in the time of Emperor Augustus, the town walls with towers and numerous gates were built on the side facing the land. On the western side of the town were the forum; the basilica and the temple with a cloister (the remains of it have been preserved), while outside the town were the amphitheatre and cemeteries. The aqueduct that was supplying the town with water from Vransko Lake has been partly preserved. Inside the ancient town, a mediaeval town had developed, when a series of churches and monasteries had been built. - During the Middle Ages, Zadar had fully gained its urban aspect, which has been maintained until today. In the bombardments during the Second World War, entire blocks were destroyed, some of the structures having been preserved. In the 16th century, Venice fortified the town with a new system of defense walls on the side facing the land; the walls were reinforced with six pentagonal bastions, while a large tower was built in front of the town (in the present-day Perivoj Vladimira Nazora). At the same time, three large public water tanks were also built. In the first half of the 16th century, architectural building in the Renaissance style was continued (the restoration of the church of St. Mary). In the 17th and 18th centuries, between the town walls and the tower, defense trenches were built (Fosa), which were completely buried during the Italian occupation. Although in the second half of the 19th century and in the early 20th century town fortifications were destroyed, wall lines along the port and land, as well as in the foundations and around the whole town, have been preserved until today.

The port is located in Stara Luka (Old Port) on Liburnska Obala, along which the town walls extend. The town is entered through Lancana Vrata (Chain Gate) and the path leads to Trg Tri Bunara (Square of Three Wells). A water tank was once located here with three wells from which the water was drawn (the openings of the wells have been preserved). In the middle of the park, the rotunda of the church of Our Lady of Health (from 1582) has been preserved, which in the 18th century had a nave added, which was later destroyed during bombardment. From here, Bozidara Petranovica Street leads by the considerably reconstructed former monastery of the nuns of St. Clare (on the right) to St. Francis Square with the church of St. Francis and the Franciscan monastery.


previous page | next page