CITY OF LOVE
It seems that
every stone in this Croatian capital has a romantic legend ascribed to it and
several charming stories float everywhere...
Sitting on his horse with a sword brandishing over
his head, is Saint George, cast in bronze, about to slay a deadly dragon. The
Roman soldier-turned-martyr and saint has two statues dedicated to him in
Zagreb. In the second statue, he is portrayed more as a victorious knight while
the dead dragon lies vanquished under his feet. The legend of St George slaying
the dragon to save a princess is a story that you will hear all over this
Croatian capital.
However, there is more to Zagreb than just dragons
and knights. The city is divided into two parts – the Upper Town or Gornji Grad
and the Lower Tower or Dornji Grad and you can zip across these two in a quaint
funicular in barely a minute. With romantic churches and quirky museums, Zagreb
is home to just 8,00,000 denizens and is unlike any other European capital.
THE “KISSING SPOTS”
One of the oldest areas of Zagreb is the Kaptol,
which was the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop since the 11th century.
Towering above every monument in the city stands the medieval Gothic Cathedral.
The twin spires dominate the skyline of the Croatian capital. The frescoes here
are one of the oldest, although the cathedral has been renovated several times.
The Croats were threatened by invasion from the Turks and the Bishop built
fortifications around Kapitol. However, I was told that the cathedral is known
more for its “kissing spots” than its military history.
WALK AROUND LOWER TOWN
The Lower Town is a montage of museums and monuments
where you can see the stamp of the Austrian Hungarian Empire in the Baroque
monuments. Statues and sculptures greet you everywhere, surrounded by lakes and
parks. The Lower Town designed by Milan Lenuci is shaped like a horseshoe and
includes six squares with monuments and gardens. You cannot miss the artistic
corner of Zagreb with its Art Pavilion, Museum of Contemporary Art and Museum
of Arts and Crafts besides the National Theatre.
CROATIAN TRUFFLES
The Croatians are proud of their cuisine but it is
their truffles that brings foodies to Zagreb. No meal is complete without the
prized black truffles. There are three kinds of truffles that grow in the
forests of Istria besides the white truffle as well. Sipping Croatian wine at
Trilogija, a quaint restaurant, located near the Stone Gate in Upper Town, I
was lost in a world of dreams as the lights of the city came up.
THE ROMANTIC CHURCHES
Everything in Zagreb is extremely charming and quaint
including the medieval churches. Start your tour of the Upper Town with the
romantic St Marks Church located in a cobbled street square named after the
church. The church painted in white has ceramic tiles on its roof that
represents the Zagreb Coat of Arms and the flags of the Triune Kingdom of
Croatia, Slavania and Dalmatia.
LET YOUR HEART BREAK
There are several museums in Zagreb, but if you have
time for just one of them, then it has to be the Museum of Broken
Relationships. Stories of heart break are narrated from all over the world.
Personal objects like shoes, gloves, wedding dresses, letters, toys that are on
display here
narrate heart wrenching stories as my eyes welled up.
FEEL THE BUZZ
In Zagreb, coffee is more than just a drink. It is
where locals meet and greet and spend hours in animated conversations. The café
culture here takes you into an old world charm as the coffee is influenced by
both Turkish, Italian and Viennese flavours. Some of the iconic cafes you must
visit are Eli’s Café, Kino Europa Café, Velvet among others
Lakshmi Sharath
TL8APR18
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