Essential Zagreb Tour with Optional Naïve Art Museum Visit

During the 2-hour walking tour you will get to explore two historical towns of Old Zagreb: Kaptol and the Upper Town. Just like Budapest, Zagreb was made up of two towns in the past. Kaptol was ruled by priests, while the Upper Town was ruled by common people and the nobility. We would like to say they lived in piece forever and ever, but that is not exactly the truth. Sometimes, the priests and the citizens didn’t get along. The old stories about the Bloody Bridge still serve as a proof of that. And there are many more stories to tell.
ITINERARY
We will start the tour at the busy Ban Josip Jelačič Square, climb up to the Neo-Gothique Cathedral and visit the colorful Dolac Market full of fruits and vegetables and, curiously, cottage cheese. Through the mysterious Stone Gate we will enter the Upper Town and reach the political center of Croatia, where the Croatian Parliament and Government are located. We will pose in front of the famous St. Mark’s Church covered in ceramic tiles, continue ahead to the cannon-firing Lotrščak Tower (a real tongue-twister) and pass by the Zagreb Funicular, the shortest urban funicular in the world. Along the way we will get to know some traditional products from Northern Croatia, such as the honey-dough hearts and the original necktie.
MUSEUM VISIT
After the sightseeing tour of Old Zagreb’s top attractions, you will head on to the Croatian Museum of Naïve Art for a unique artistic experience. During the 1-hour visit, you will learn about the technique of reverse glass painting and the symbolism of the paintings, which reflect the Croatian spirit and culture.
Croatian Naïve Art originated in small villages of Northern Croatia and emerged on the world art scene in the second half of the 20th century. It is a remarkable story of a group of simple peasants who traded their sickles for some paint and a brush and managed to wow us with their talent. Without having any training, they became professional artists who made a living by doing what they loved. The most curious thing about Croatian Naïve Art is its technique, called reverse glass painting. Painting on glass is in many ways different from traditional painting on canvas. Most importantly, the side that you see is not the painted side!