got a damaged tooth covered in gold at a nearby dentist would melt it down for her own dying tooth and film the process Marija Kobale (Mica for short) decided to visit the dentist in a nearby town and encase a damaged tooth in a golden veneer she couldn't say exactly what was wrong with the tooth, where the dentist was based or how much it cost – but what’s certain is that the tooth remained with her until 2013 when it was removed and replaced by an artificial set. Sixty years later thinking she might melt it down and use the gold for something useful. What she couldn’t have predicted was that her granddaughter, Lucija Rosc, would take the tooth in question, turn it into a gold coating for her own dying tooth The tooth began its journey as a fashionable accessory coolness solidified in the general atmosphere of 1960s Yugoslavia And Mica would certainly fit the vibe – one of the archival photographs that Lucija used in the past shows a young Mica on a motorcycle smiling broadly at someone we cannot see It’s not difficult to imagine her character especially if we’re familiar with Lucija’s work In her project Mica Reads Jokes (2023) the photographer produced a vinyl record of her grandmother’s collection of jokes some of them quite raunchy – and made funnier by the fact that it’s Mica’s voice reading them for us. She used to keep a little notebook to collect the jokes and write down her favourites pulling it out during a quiet moment at family gatherings and testing the jokes on her relatives.  who dedicated several exhibitions (Superpositions, Škuc gallery 2022; Podmet, Miklova hiša gallery 2023) to her relationship with her grandparents, has now chosen to continue exploring the topic and dedicate a project solely to her grandmother. The artist is once again dealing with topics of family dynamics and memory, and still uses photography as her preferred medium But the real focus of the exhibition is a performative documentary film about the tooth’s journey from Mica to Lucija; its transfer is a gesture of passing down an heirloom, and the tooth becomes a totem of sorts. After all Lucija used the gold to cure her own dying tooth (fifth bottom left) in a symbolic gesture of succession The film oscillates between archival footage of Lucija’s childhood, iPhone-filmed excerpts of her conversations with Mica dated from 2016 to today and the process of her tooth replacement. We see Mica lost in thought, lovingly forcing her granddaughter to take homefood and aimlessly tidying up the apartment. There is a scene of Mica looking for her missing slipper engaging everyone present in the hunt. These scenes show us how Mica is seen by her granddaughter but they also possessa certain universality almost as if we were rewatching our own memories. The footage also speaks of Lucija’s artistic practice which is based on the fictionalisation of personal memory but always managing to imbue her narratives with a sense of humour and induced nostalgia casts of Lucija’s teeth and Mica’s gold tooth, and documentation of the dental work are all part of the story where mundane objects are turned into important pieces of the puzzle presented as almost sacred objects. The project is both playful and vulnerable with the artist letting us in on the otherwise private and intimate part of her life. The tooth serves as a metaphor for remembrance with the artist asking whether it is possible to solidify a cherished memory by literally implanting it in one’s body. The project is definitely a homage to her grandmother and a celebration of her character, yet on a more sombre note it also deals with the fear of losing a loved one and the question of what will remain once they are gone – and how one can carry their legacy into the future.  Lucija's main focus is a performative documentary film that chronicles the tooth’s journey from Mica to herself The transfer of the tooth symbolizes the passing down of an heirloom Here is the private link to watch the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8UP7na5wec Mica is holding Lucija's bottle of milk The moment captures her gentle presence and the familiarity of a cherished routine 2024," Lucija explores the theme of 'babiščina' or 'heirloom' through the tooth as a metaphor for remembrance She questions whether a cherished memory can be solidified by implanting it in one's body The project is a heartfelt homage to her grandmother addressing the fear of losing a loved one and reflecting on how to carry their legacy into the future 2024" is a site-specific installation showcasing photographs of Lucija's grandmother's golden tooth It includes images from family albums and her grandparents' collections This piece serves as both a tribute and an archive bringing together all the "evidence" of her grandmother's golden tooth and highlighting its significance in their shared history Lucija discovered two pictures of Mica from 1965 The left photo had been torn and “retouched,” attempting to either remove or conceal her golden tooth Mica explained that she had to send the left picture for a bureaucratic task or job-related matter and preferred that the recipient not see her gold tooth Mica is posing at the highest peak in Slovenia which stands at an elevation of 2,863 meters above sea level The photograph captures her in a moment of triumph surrounded by breathtaking views of the alpine landscape The photo was taken just after Lucija had her grandmother's melted golden veneer installed in her mouth The image captures the moment when a piece of family history became part of her adding a quiet touch of significance to her expression Optically scanned grandmother's dental veneer 1 The installation consists of a wooden structure supporting three differently shaped pieces of styrofoam Each piece displays a unique position of Lucija's grandmother's optically scanned dental veneer Plaster models of upper and lower dental arch The installation features plaster models of Lucija's upper and lower dental arches with a clear indication of where a golden tooth was later installed This specific tooth is removable and serves as a mold emphasizing the practical aspect of the dental installation while inviting viewers to engage with the physicality of the artwork Optically scanned grandmother's dental veneer 2 An optical scan of Lucija's grandmother's dental veneer captures the details of the piece The image provides a straightforward digital record of the personal item Optically scanned grandmother's dental veneer 3 Zagreb offers a sophisticated European city break with an added spark of Balkan energy – and without the stifling crowds Zagreb hits that short city break sweet spot with friendly locals happy to point you in the right direction should you ever get lost Zagreb is divided into two parts: Donji Grad (Lower Town) and Gornji Grad (Upper Town) While the Lower Town has some impressive Habsburg buildings and lower garden squares you’ll spend most of your time in the Upper Town it is here you’ll find most of the city’s most most striking sights clustered in a medieval neighbourhood tucked between the Kaptol and Gradec hills dominated by St Mark’s Church and its distinctive tiled roof The Old Town Gate is a great place to start your exploration of this historic quarter one of the city’s most famous streets and home to countless cafes and bars The markets in Dolac are worth checking out too Discover the festivals (Julien Duval / Zagreb Tourist Board) squares and streets are buzzing with live music and exhibitions and other art events are held across the city Croatian café culture (Julien Duval / Zagreb Tourist Board) Drinking coffee is a serious business in Zagreb It’s an excuse to get out of the house and catch up with friends Of course, the city has its trendy cafes too. Eli’s Café is cool and minimal and all about the beans with bare brick walls and a focus on unusual blends and organic beans Be brave and wander into the scruffy cafes you see too but they are cosy and homely with a distinctly Balkan vibe and the place where locals go to catch up and gossip Chances are they’ll welcome you into their ‘homes’ with open arms Zagreb is dotted with museums and attractions that are rather strange and bizarre, but surprisingly endearing. The Museum of Broken Relationships tucked away on Ćirilometodska 2 in Gornji Grad left behind after relationships have ended Created by Croatian artists Olinka Vistina and Drazen Grubisic after they separated it is being constantly complemented by items sent by the broken-hearted from around the world The nearby Museum of Naïve Art displaying work from artists the museum kindly describes as ‘untrained masters.’ Elsewhere, you can explore a system of tunnels underneath Vila Rebar, the burned out ruins of an estate that once belonged to Croatian dictator, Ante Pavelić. Alternatively, play paintball in what remains of Brestovac Sanatorium Chapel on Medvednica Mountain above Zagreb (Julien Duval / Zagreb Tourist Board) Medvednica Mountain is the city’s ‘lungs’ and a place where locals like to walk The trailhead starts at the last tram stop on Line 15 Most locals walk to the Puntijarka Mountain house The simple meals of beans and potatoes are traditional and filling and cheap too A less demanding trail is the one that starts in Sestine and leads you beside a small river to Kraljicin Zdenac Elsewhere in the mountains you’ll find caves springs and the remains of a medieval fortified town called Medvedgrad Main image: Twilight in Zagreb (Dreamstime) Sign up to our newsletter for free with the Wanderlust Club An interesting thing that took place in the Zagreb and Croatian public in the past few days after the news that the Council of the Zagreb city district Gornji grad - Medveščak by a majority of votes supported the idea of ​​naming one of the streets in the city after Milka Planinc showed that the Croatian society is not as polarized as it seems at first glance without going into the nuances that I will deal with later the idea was rejected in unison by people from the liberal left while even those on the marginalized left did not go out of their way to defend the idea and the people from "Može" and the New Left almost immediately recanted and rejected the proposal that came from their ranks if in Croatian society and on the political scene they cannot agree on what they are for they certainly have no problem deciding on what they are not for And it is clear to everyone that it is much more about the evaluation of an era than about the character and work of Milka Planinc is completely unknown to many of the younger generations and was not overly interesting even to those who remember her era Already have an account? Log in Dragan Markovina is a historian and contributor to Great Stories Your gift link will be available for 14 days © 2025 Big Stories - TCT News and Entertainment - All rights reserved. Developed by cubes Croatia has a strong Mediterranean appeal: mountains pine-scented islands and turquoise waters in Dalmatia; vineyards rural farmsteads and hilltop castles in the north much-loved for its postcard-pretty Old Town medieval fortifications and baroque architecture cosy cafes and enchanting Christmas Market When to go: Once the proud Republic of Ragusa the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ — as Romantic poet Lord Byron famously called Dubrovnik — is now one of Croatia’s most popular seaside destinations Plan your trip during the warm shoulder months to enjoy its sights with smaller crowds and help preserve its heritage sites displaying paintings and models of some of the merchant ships that were key to Dubrovnik's wealth in former centuries The medieval Walls of Dubrovnik rise directly from the Adriatic and you can walk the full circuit of the ramparts for views over terracotta rooftops and across the glittering sea The surrounding coastline has rocky coves and pebble-and-sand beaches a 10-minute ferry ride will take you from the port of Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island pine forests and some great swimming spots What to eat: Refuel with Dalmatian seafood specialities at local restaurants — savour oysters from Ston accompanied by Pošip white wine from Korčula Where to stay: To combine sightseeing with swimming and sunbathing, stay at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel in Srebreno Bay regular taxi boats head south to Cavtat: founded by the Ancient Greeks in rural region of Konavle this village sits on a tiny peninsula dotted with Aleppo pines and pebble beaches The Riviera Suite at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel has idyllic views onto Srebreno Bay below. Photograph by Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera HotelA city guide to Zagreb in the northeast of the countryWhen to go: Most Croatians agree — summer on the coast Dusted with snow and occasionally shrouded in romantic fog Zagreb looks like a scene from a fairy tale at Christmastime with medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town) above it and 19th-century Donji Grad (Lower Town) below is the perfect place to kick-start an exploration of the compact centre where you can stroll around Dolac Market and crane your neck to spot the twin spires of 13th-century Zagreb Cathedral (currently under restoration Wander Gorniji Grad's steep cobbled streets keeping an eye out for the old-fashioned street lanterns that are still hand-lit each evening Getting to Gornji Grad is an easy enough uphill stroll, but the short Zagreb Funicular is a fun alternative. Here, you can’t miss St Mark’s Church: the building’s colourful roof tiles — assembled to create medieval coats of arms — have become an emblem of the city. Visit the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships which displays significant objects from love stories gone wrong visit Zagreb's Christmas Market and taste local specialities such as strukli (cottage cheese dumplings) and sarma (cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice) What to buy: There are 17 Croatian customs and traditions enshrined on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list — more than any other country in Europe except Spain —  and some of them can be easily discovered during your trip handmade in Zagorje — two crafts recognised by UNESCO The Power Engineering and Energy Management Chair at the Department of Energy 0 Power and Environmental Engineering (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture University of Zagreb) and the North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency – REGEA Does it require investment aimed at getting back to the previous state or can we consider a new The cost of the reconstruction of a chimney is estimated at a minimum of HRK 25,000 (EUR 3,000) possibly including the costs of a condensing boiler for those who don’t have it now while a good share of chimneys would need to be adapted for gas-fired condensing boilers at HRK 5,000 per heating device “The earthquake destroyed about 10,000 chimneys so it temporarily disabled heating in one third of the buildings in the city center by 2040 it will have been removed from the heating system in the European Union which means now is the right time to involve a new heating system in the reconstruction in the city and district heating would be the best by far,” according to professor Neven Duić from the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture transportation and use causes greenhouse gas emissions The EU plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 50% and 55% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 Natural gas will have to be excluded for the most part from heating by 2040 at the latest According to the trajectory compliant with a 1.5 °C rise in temperature natural gas will have to be excluded for the most part from heating by 2040 at the latest It means we consider natural gas to be only a so-called transitional fuel and that it has no room in the EU’s energy future in heating As gas equipment’s lifespan is about 20 years and it is about to be taken out of use before the end of 2040 investments in gas must now be very prudent and limited The EU acknowledged in its heating and cooling strategy that central heating systems (CHS) are an optional technical solution for densely populated urban areas as it is simple to decarbonize a CHS with the use of waste heat as well as geothermal and solar energy it is also necessary to invest in the energy and statics improvement in the structures The Government of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb must define a joint reconstruction concept as soon as possible for the area devastated in the earthquake It is a national project without precedent but also a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a progressive leap expanding the district heating network to the districts of Gornji grad and Donji grad is suggested to be included in the renewal project The heating pipeline should be driven through the streets of Donji grad and Gornji grad (now it is at the edge of Donji grad) The installations must be placed vertically in buildings and set up thermal stations in every apartment The optimal place for a thermal station is where gas boilers are now as it is where the central heating installation enters together with the hot water feed pipe In case there is no central heating in the apartment The investment in the ducts that go under the streets needs to be public the expenditures for vertically placed pipes in buildings and the heating stations can be optimally divided and tenants can pay their part of the burden through future heating bills Which part of the investment should be covered with public funds and which individualized The investment in the ducts that go under the streets surely needs to be public A subsidy should be secured for a significant part of the costs of the potential overhauls and expansion of the central heating and hot water supply system Such an approach is suggested for all buildings undergoing any significant reconstruction or new projects For buildings that don’t require substantial renewal before people move back in the plan should include a transitional solution in the form of condensing boilers but with a prospect of switching to CHS as soon as possible and at least by 2040 The proposition includes a quality heating system in the Zagreb city center it is based on domestic energy sources and it reduces the dependence on energy imports Zagreb lies on vast geothermal resources – which can completely satisfy its heating needs In order to obtain a long-term sustainable and secure energy supply in the central area of the city of Zagreb Picture 1 shows the potential distribution of such a network and the possibility to connect it to the existing network The suggested network is just one of the potential options – in this configuration and the costs for the configuration could be EUR 15 to 19 million The downtown area has an exceptionally high density of buildings and thus a matching heating demand which makes it ideal for the implementation of such technology Picture 2 shows heating demand in the city of Zagreb the planned and existing heating and steam lines and the proposal for the expansion of the network to Donji grad The potential source of funding for the preparation phase (study and design documentation) can be found in the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion’s (OPCC) specific objective 4c3 The said specific objective particularly focuses on increasing efficiency in district heating The amount needed to finance the project can be found with minimal changes to the criteria for the selection of projects and the redistribution of the total allocation for the aforementioned goal The funds to reach the specific objective have been envisaged for use via the integrated territorial investments (ITI) tool which is already being applied on the territory of Zagreb Urban Agglomeration the entire allocation for 4c3 (EUR 80 million) can be redistributed within the ITI mechanism It is also possible to use funds from technical assistance (specific objective 10) or to combine both specific objectives The share of cofinancing should be determined afterwards and the project can be cofinanced by HEP Toplinarstvo Be the first one to comment on this article 22 April 2025 - Croatia has earmarked EUR 25 million for households at risk of energy poverty They will use the funds for energy renovation 21 April 2025 - Existing geothermal wells alone can enable Turkey to become one of the world's major producers of lithium 17 April 2025 - Minister of Energy and Mining of Montenegro Admir Šahmanović was formally voted in as the two ministries that he ran were merged 16 April 2025 - The government approved EUR 30 million in grants to businesses for investments in renewable energy production and energy efficiency measures © CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2008-2020 website developed by ogitive Get whisked away to the Upper Town in just 64 seconds on Zagreb’s emblematic blue funicular Connecting the Lower and Upper Town areas since 1890 the cable railway is said to be the world’s shortest for public transport then amble along the leafy Strossmayer Promenade Štros (as it’s called by locals) is lined with tall chestnut trees and benches and hosts an outdoor event every summer called Summer on Štros The funicular is the easiest way to get up to Zagreb’s old town also known as Gornji Grad or Grič—to see St Not to mention the views—from the top of the funicular Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Croatia facebooktwitterinstagramAbout us Two months have passed since an earthquake, measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale, hit Zagreb hard. Thanks to emergency responders' diligence, medical and construction efforts, strong community support, and the city's undying spirit, Zagreb is on its way to recovery.  Zagreb is no stranger to hardships - but from a visit to the equal-parts-lively-and-lovely city, you wouldn't know it.  Let's, then, honour this resilient city and explore its recent history of natural disasters to see how it's risen out of each struggle ever stronger. Fighting off years of foreign invasion and emerging victorious, the once-town of Gradec (today a Zagreb neighbourhood) was proclaimed free by King Béla IV of Hungary in 1242. The King issued Gradec an official edict (today carefully kept in the Croatian State Archives) which made it a self-governing city. Citizens celebrated and reinforced this achievement by building, in the 1260s, a series of fortifications (pictured below) comprised of walls and gates - including what is today known as the Stone Gate. Located in the modern-day Gornji grad (Upper Town), this gate stood as a symbol of the importance of independence to the people of Gradec. On May 30 of 1731, a terrible fire broke out across the city, most of which was built from wood. Much of Gradec was damaged, including the Stone Gate. According to legend, however, a painting of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus was found among the ashes - fully intact. The find was soon proclaimed a miracle.  The painting (whose artist remains anonymous to this day) currently resides in a chapel in the much-visited Stone Gate, today considered a holy site. On May 31, 1991 Archbishop of Zagreb Franjo Kuharić (1919-2002) proclaimed Our Lady of the Stone Gate the patron saint of Zagreb. She is celebrated on May 31, which is also the day of the city of Zagreb itself. This relic remains a symbol of the city's perseverance to this day.  On November 9, 1880 at 7:33 AM, the growing metropolis of Zagreb was rattled by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, the strongest one to hit the city to date. The severity of the earthquake resulted in 29 serious injuries, one death, and damaged almost 2000 buildings. The city's damages and renovations were famously documented by award-winning Croatian photographer Ivan Standl (1832-1897). Following the 1880 earthquake, the Zagreb Cathedral underwent a 26-year restoration until its completion in 1906.  According to official records, 3,800 train tickets were sold as some citizens fled to the nearby cities of Graz, Vienna, and Ljubljana. In the cold and dark winter weeks to follow, citizens lived in fear of the frequent and dangerous aftershocks which continued to strike Zagreb. During the turbulent time, the people of Zagreb leaned on their family, friends, and neighbours for both help and comfort. When the final aftershocks subsided by Christmas of 1880, the city had regained its confidence. Zagreb was reminded of all the effort citizens and non-citizens alike put into rebuilding its cracked streets, which had witnessed the beauty and frenzy of city life for centuries. Its fallen chimneys, which had provided heat to the city's residents. Its caved-in houses, which had provided shelter and security. The city slowly but surely built itself up again in the years to follow. Damages sustained by the Upper Town led to an expansion of the city southwards from Mount Medvednica and with the increase in space came a population boost of 30,000 to 40,000 people. The Sava river is an iconic landmark of Zagreb, splitting the city into two.  Novi Zagreb (meaning, New Zagreb) was initially a series of smaller settlements, constructed after WWII, located south of the river. Unfortunately, in 1964, a natural disaster struck both sides of the Sava again when the river's embankment cracked and water flooded the city. A third of Zagreb was soon underwater. 17 people passed away and 40,000 were left without homes.  Once again, Zagrepčani (Zagreb residents) were united in trying times and the city found new ways to continue improving. In order to prevent such a catastrophic event from reoccurring, flood defense and prevention systems were created in Zagreb, Karlovac, and Sisak; all cities which border the Sava. After first reaching Croatia, COVID-19 soon spread to every county in the country. Due to the tireless work of healthcare employees, measures taken by the government, and citizens who self-isolated, Oxford University deemed Croatia as the country with the world’s strictest measures in relation to infection reduction. Croatia is currently seeing a steady decline in COVID-19 cases.  Atop the pandemic, Croatia was gripped with another unexpected hardship when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck Zagreb in the morning hours of March 22, 2020. The city center was most affected. There were 26 injuries, one death, and over 26,000 buildings were damaged. Two months after the earthquake, the city is on the way to recovery due to the unselfish efforts of humans helping each other. In the previous stories of Zagreb’s most brutal natural disasters, one common theme arises: this city knows how to rise from the ashes. Every time disaster arrives, Zagreb suffers and then emerges anew; ready to face new challenges, provide a loving home to its citizens, and bring joy to its visitors. Over the past two months, we've seen the city, yet again, prevail after a natural disaster. We're sure that the pandemic of COVID-19 will also pass, and that Zagreb and the rest of the world will again overcome it - together. is a word-of-mouth destination that’s just as big of a draw for return travellers as it is for first-time visitors For anyone new to Zagreb – or for that matter repeat guests who want to ‘tick all the boxes’ on this beautiful European hot spot – here’s a list of the city’s top attractions… Mark’s Square – The standout here is pristine St which in part dates from the mid-13th century Mark’s Square is also the site of the graceful and stately buildings housing the Croatian government Lenuci Horseshoe – A green oasis in the heart of the city and the pinnacle of urban planning for Zagreb this 19th-century patchwork of squares and parks is where visitors will find numerous scientific and cultural institutions Dolac – Busy and bustling Dolac is Zagreb’s biggest and most charming farmers’ market Dolac is also an ideal spot for visitors to check out quality produce from all around Croatia The colourful displays make for great photo ops this cemetery is also a serene green-space and an open-air sculpture park Funicular – It’s easy to get from ‘Gornji grad’ (Upper Town) to ‘Donji grad’ (Lower Town) – or vice versa – on Zagreb’s funicular Famous as the world’s shortest cable railway used for public transport the funicular has been connecting the Upper and Lower Towns since 1890 Maksimir – Locals might tell you that they consider Maksimir to be the most beautiful of Zagreb’s parks Maksimir is also the oldest of the city’s parks and features several lakes The Cathedral – The stunning sacral building has been rebuilt many times since its inception in the 13th century Its now-iconic Neo-Gothic look came about in the 19th century Špica – The pedestrianized stretch between Ban Jelačić Square and Petar Preradović Square (also known as Flower Square) is where Zagreb comes to see and be seen Špica’s inviting café terraces and the surrounding scene epitomize Zagreb’s coffee-drinking culture the Grič cannon at Lotrščak Tower is fired with thunderous ceremony Lotrščak Tower is also one of the best-preserved parts of Zagreb’s fortifications Medvednica – Commune with nature in this peaceful (and beautiful) nature park at the foot of Mount Medvednica in the northernmost region of Zagreb There is a new Sljeme Cable Car and visitor centre at Medvedgrad fortress And here’s a timely special mention especially for fans of art and culture: ARTUPUNKTURA the second edition of Zagreb’s Signature Art Festival with art exhibitions and cultural performances across the city The idea of Artupunktura is to bring together people through art and culture and awaken the city’s vital energy through joint artistic activities at various city locations “Artupunktura is a unique project of Zagreb Tourist Board and partners whose numerous participants joined with their ideas and programs,” says Bienenfeld Artupunktura emphasizes the area of contemporary culture positioning the city of Zagreb as a creative center and destination of the urban European cultural scene The program of the second edition of Artupunktura consists of 23 private and public participants which is more than twice as many as last year’s premier edition.” Zagreb’s art collectives and organizations and visitors are positioning the fall season as a time for awakening awareness of the value of creation and simultaneously offering soul therapy with Zagreb’s art affirming Zagreb as a city of art and culture we thank all of our partners for recognizing our initiative which strengthens Zagreb’s year-round offer,” says Bienenfeld More information about Artupunktura can be found at www.artupunktura.hr/en/ And for more information about visiting Zagreb see infozagreb.hr Exclusive access to Canadian travel industry news Subscribe Now Lauren Simmonds 2025 – Zagreb is home to a peculiar funicular and 125 years of history have played out on its 66 metre track As Index/Dubravko Grakalic writes the charming little Zagreb funicular connects Donji Grad (Lower Town) and Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and is among the most recognisable symbols of Zagreb The renovation of the oldest public transport vehicle in the capital has revived loving stories about the Zagreb funicular and its 125 years of history It also looks back at its importance for the people of Zagreb who consider the Zagreb funicular one of the city’s most interesting attractions The Revitalisation of the Zagreb Funicular project will renovate the upper and lower stations of the funicular The Zagreb funicular line is only 66 metres long connecting Tomićeva Ulica and Strossmayerovo šetalište It’s one of the shortest funiculars in the world It was put into operation almost 125 years ago – on October the 8th and has been officially operating since 1893 “The construction of the famed Zagreb funicular was an important undertaking in the development of public transport and the general modernisation of Zagreb at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries Less than one year after the funicular was installed a tram line connected the city from west to east that connection went from Gornja Ilica to Vlaška Ulica or from Mandaličina Street to today’s Kvaternikov Square – with branches to the South Station today’s West Station (Zapadni Kolodvor) and down to the Sava River The then horse-drawn tram was undoubtedly an important step in the modernisation of the capital’s public urban transport and Budapest got an underground railway a mere five years later the steam-powered Zagreb funicular was a far more advanced means of transport and partly an attraction for the citizens and visitors of Zagreb alike,” explained the curator of the Zagreb City Museum The Zagreb funicular and its 125 years of history began when it was built by Osijek entrepreneur David William Klein That construction took place on the site where famous architect Milan Lenuci had previously designed a serpentine road Klein calculated that most people would go this way towards the Upper Town which is Radićeva Ulica in this day and age Klein submitted an application for a building permit to the City Council and the first test run took place in February 1890 The much loved funicular had already become an attraction for visitors to Zagreb “This was particularly evident during the Jubilee Economic and Forestry Exhibition in Zagreb in the summer and autumn of 1891 Numerous visitors from all over took the opportunity to ride the funicular and spread the word about it the Zagreb funicular was built on the initiative and funds of a private entrepreneur and the entire venture was accompanied by administrative complications technical difficulties and disapproval from citizens in the neighbourhood of the funicular line the funicular has preserved its primary functions it primarily serves as part of the public transport system and is used daily by those who live work or study in Upper Town,” explained Arčabić The Zagreb funicular was powered by steam until 1934 when it began being powered with electricity Due to frequent breakdowns occurring at the time the people of Zagreb also called it – the “zapinjača” (something that click-stops) as opposed to its Croatian name – uspinjača There were no external changes – the funicular has retained its external appearance track and all its characteristics for more than a century It’s now a protected cultural monument after the expiration of its 40-year concession the funicular became the property of the City of Zagreb the usual colour for all of Zagreb’s public transport vehicles and it’s now under ZET’s management the funicular wasn’t in operation due to reconstruction Only the brick viaduct was in good condition while the rest of the structure was removed and replaced The original shape of the Zagreb funicular was preserved and the new drive machines and vehicles were installed by the Waagner-Biro company from Vienna The electrical equipment was made by Siemens The newly renovated funicular was put into operation on July the 26th the upper and lower stations of the funicular were again renovated The importance of the recognisable Zagreb funicular is also indicated by the Zagreb Tourist Board: “The Zagreb funicular which has been connecting the Lower and Upper Towns since 1890 is a symbol of Zagreb and one of its most famous landmarks it’s one of the shortest funiculars in the whole world but its historical significance and charm make it an indispensable part of the Zagreb experience In addition to connecting Zagreb’s Upper and Lower Towns known for its authenticity and great view of the historic centre As the oldest means of transportation in the entire city it represents a combination of history and tradition and contributes to the creation of Zagreb’s unique identity the only known funicular with a shorter route than the one in Zagreb is the one at Niagara Falls – Falls Incline which is 60 metres long and takes 62 seconds to ride The Zagreb funicular takes 64 seconds to cover 66 meters the funicular is 108 metres long and takes 90 seconds to complete a journey while the Angels Flight in Los Angeles is 91 metres long and takes 45 seconds the Zagreb funicular had both first and second class compartments The first was more expensive and offered a view of Zagreb from the front of the funicular while the second part was at the back and was cheaper “Regular repairs to the funicular are essential to preserving the safety and longevity of this historical symbol Although it will be temporarily out of service these interventions are key to ensuring its functionality and preserving the unique experience it provides We believe that after the repairs are done the Zagreb funicular will shine in its full glory again ready to continue telling the story of Zagreb and be a part of its everyday life,” they stated from the Zagreb Tourist Board The Zagreb funicular has 125 years of impressive history behind it It is scheduled to be renovated until March 2026 It took 10 months to build it back in the 19th century and website in this browser for the next time I comment that marks noon with a blast that echoes over the capital every day the firing of the Grič cannon and the resulting vibrations further annoyed the citizens of Gornji Grad so from March 28 until the situation calms down the firing of the Grič cannon has been suspended," stated the City of Zagreb The Grič cannon is one of Zagreb's landmarks The marking of noon began on the 1st of January 1877 and in the past the firing of the Grič cannon was stopped only at the end of the First World War The cannon was originally housed in the building of the Hydro-meteorological Institute and today it is located in the Lotrščak Tower in Gornji grad May 05, 2025 170 Times Travel May 05, 2025 472 Dubrovnik May 04, 2025 896 Croatia May 04, 2025 602 Opinion May 04, 2025 800 Croatia May 03, 2025 902 Dubrovnik May 03, 2025 1031 Croatia May 03, 2025 734 Dubrovnik May 03, 2025 714 Dubrovnik Put bana Josipa Jelacica 25, 20207, Brasina, Mlini. The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice There’s more to Croatia than the coast – its medieval capital is crammed with cultural curiosities and green spaces that salute summer It is now 20 years since Croatia emerged from Yugoslavia you will not hear many echoes of conflict in its capital stopping at the central bus station (2) on Avenida Marina Drzica Set in the north of the Croatia – far closer to Slovenia’s capital than its compatriot Dubrovnik (310 miles) – Zagreb is a pretty prospect which rises to 3396ft directly to the north It is still visibly medieval in the narrow lanes which infuse Gornji Grad A sturdy four-star which has occupied its central address at Petrinjska 71 since 1932, the Hotel Astoria (4) (00 385 1 480 8900; hotelastoria.hr) has double rooms for K739 (£74) Tucked just north-west of the centre at Pantovcak 52, Hotel President Pantovcak (5) (00 385 1 488 1480; president-zagreb.com) is a boutique option with floor-to-ceiling windows The Esplanade (6), at Mihanoviceva 1 (00 385 1 456 6666; esplanade.hr) is Zagreb’s grandest retreat – a fabulous five-star dating back to 1925 Start in Gornji Grad, at Croatia’s tallest building, Zagreb Cathedral (7) whose twin towers rise to 354ft (Kaptol 31; 00 385 1 481 4727; glas-koncila.hr) Although heavily rebuilt after an earthquake in 1880 from 1pm on Sundays (five services every Sunday morning) the city’s main market square – the venue for a daily (weekdays 6.30am to 3pm; Saturday to 2pm honey and cheeses (as it has been since 1926) turn right on to Ilica (the key retail stretch) and take the second right which is part of the public transport system and runs every 10 minutes (daily 6pm to 9pm; K4/40p) is a funicular which has climbed its 216 feet of track since 1890 the promenade of Strossmayerovo Setaliste (10) offers splendid city views And if you have not yet had your fill of food stalls then the vegetable market in Britanski Trg (14) (British Square) may well appeal Restoran Pod Grickim Topom (15), at Zakmardijeve Stube 5 (00 385 1 483 3607; restoran-pod-grickim-topom.hr) serves a tasty sole fillet cooked in white wine for K150 (£15) The Atelijer Mestrovich (18), at Mletacka 8 (00 385 1 485 1123; mestrovic.hr; K30/£3) except Saturday and Sunday (to 2pm) and Monday (closed) Donji Grad has a clutch of great places to drink on Bogoviceva. Vinyl Bar (19), at No 3, proffers a range of Croatian wines from K20 (£2) a glass (00 385 1 563 5483; vinylzagreb.com) is a Gornji Grad gourmet jewel with gnudi (small soft dumplings) with goat’s cheese and tomato (K70/£7) At the Esplanade (6) Le Bistro has haute cuisine with exotic touches such as monkfish with coconut and curry sauce (K145/£14.50) While the Cathedral (7) dominates Gornji Grad Crkva Sv Marka (St Mark’s) (22) is a hugely photogenic 13th-century church at Trg Sv Marka 5 (00 385 1 485 1611) with coloured tiles adorning its roof and forming the coats of arms of Zagreb and Croatia Inside you’ll find Mestrovich sculptures (open during services – weekdays 7.30am and 6pm Pick up tram No 6 (for “Sopot”) in Jelacica square (3) and ride six stops south, into Novi Zagreb. Here, dive into the Musej Suvrememe Umjetnosti (23) at Avenida Dubrovnik 17. The Museum of Contemporary Art (00 385 1 605 2700; msu.hr; K30/£3) opened in 2009 and has added a dab of culture to an unremarkable area It is a striking edifice of glass and concrete with 12,000 exhibits including art by such Croatian visionaries as Milivoj Uzelac and Josip Seissel (open daily 11am to 6pm Continue your ride on one of artist Carsten Höller’s distinctive steel art-slides The museum has a restaurant where you can take a break from all the dynamic visuals with something mildly less challenging Park Ribnjak (24) injects a dose of open space into the tight alleys of Gornji Grad The city’s fortifications ran this way in the 15th century and you can still see wall fragments Park Zrinjevac (25) (Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog) is the loveliest element of the “Zelena Potkova” (“Green Horseshoe”) fringing Donji Grad An 1891 pavilion at its heart stages free summer concerts Zagreb’s most alluring attraction may be the Museum of Broken Relationships (26), at Sv Cirilac Metoda 2 (00 385 1 485 1021; brokenships.com; K25/£2.50) It was opened in 2010 by a couple whose own bliss had foundered and is now a repository for totems of defunct romance such as the champagne cork that would have saluted a wedding had the bride not found her fiancé cheating 9am to 10.30pm) has a café where you can sip an espresso for K8 (80p) Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar today hosts President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda on an official visit to Slovenia The visit is a continuation of the regular political dialogue between the two countries and an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange views on current European and foreign policy topics Slovenia and Poland both successfully participate in the EU and NATO as well as other multilateral organisations and various initiatives in the region.  its citizens and Caritas Poland for the assistance provided during last year's floods around 50 engineers and members of the Polish Army came to our aid and built two bridges in Mežica and Gornji Grad Today's Slovenian-Polish meeting is taking place at a symbolic time as this month marks Poland's (12 March 25 years ago) and Slovenia's (29 March 20 years ago) accession to NATO President Pirc Musar highlighted that in view of the war in Ukraine such an alliance is more important than ever before as evidenced by the recent accessions of Sweden and Finland to NATO Today's visit is also taking place during Poland's preparations for its presidency of the Council of the EU Poland will assume the presidency at the beginning of 2025 when we will be marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation of Auschwitz Remembering these events will be another opportunity for reminding the generations born after the war how important it is to fight for the fundamental values of the European Union and to respect human rights and how important minorities and cooperation among countries are for preserving peace and prosperity on the continent The President expressed her wish for close cooperation and the continuous exchange of views on Ukraine The Slovenian and Polish Presidents also discussed the importance of EU enlargement to the Western Balkan countries The Slovenian President informed her Polish counterpart of discussions held during her recent visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina a country which has made significant progress in the last year The accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU is essential for maintaining stability and progress and for reducing the influence of third countries President Pirc Musar believes that it is crucial that enlargement stays high on the EU agenda also during Poland's presidency of the Council of the EU.She said that Slovenia advocates respect for the rule of law in the EU and fundamental human rights and is committed to maintaining the EU's global role and competitiveness As the wars in Ukraine and Gaza are raging as well as the worrying number of 55 other conflicts around the world it is vital to strengthen the security and defence of the EU and to advocate for a united and stronger EU and NATO President Pirc Musar said that Slovenia unwaveringly supports Ukraine Slovenia also strives for stabilisation in the Middle East Several times it has called upon all involved to immediately declare a ceasefire and to respect international law The order to launch an attack on Rafah is worrying and President Pirc Musar called for access to humanitarian aid to be ensured A great part of the visit was dedicated to increasing economic cooperation between the two countries Poland is an important partner of Slovenia and ranks 9th in terms of the value of trade in goods the Polish President is being accompanied by a strong business delegation The number of Polish tourists visiting Slovenia is also increasing The two countries want to strengthen cooperation in digitalisation the Slovenian-Polish Business Forum will be held at Planica Nordic Centre which the two countries hope will strengthen cooperation in digitalisation In concluding the talks with her Polish counterpart the Slovenian President expressed her satisfaction that a part of the visit was also dedicated to sports and culture the Presidents will attend the qualifications for the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Planica a ceremony will be held in Kranj with the unveiling of a monument to Polish Romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz the choirs of the city of Pancevo organized 16 simultaneous blockades at 16 intersections throughout the city Each of the intersections had the number 1 out of 16 and symbolically bore one of the 16 names of the victims who died in the demolition of the canopy at the Railway Station in Novi Sad The people of Pančevka practically stopped traffic in the whole city with the action called "16 for 16" The choirs of the city of Pancevo say that such actions are possible perhaps even at the level of the entire country This unique action with several coordinated blockades passed without incident and each of the sixteen gatherings was secured by the traffic police The action meant that hundreds of citizens organized themselves among themselves and the choirs and local communities of Centar Students from Pancevo also participated in the action Choirs in Panečvo are organized by local communities and have so far launched various actions and recently the "Send Ćacia" action at two locations on the outskirts of the city Serbian students repeated a hundred times that this is a marathon Similar to Adam Mihnjik in the eighties in Poland The government in Serbia is on the way to the end - you just need to be patient With the inclusivity created at the plenums students should continue during election engagement including the opposition at some point - whatever it may be Who mentions the extraordinary elections when the rating of the party in power is falling Vučić is not the most important political factor in the country © 2025 Time, Belgrade. Developed by cubes you probably not only grew up with his songs but also had your best times with them the guy every mother would want for their daughter - Momcilo Bajagic Bajaga continues to teach ‘positive geography’ after four decades of dominating our scene I spent my earliest childhood in Zemun and when I turned around five years old my father got an apartment in Planuma building in the 22nd October street we lived in a rented apartment near the old flea market in Gornji grad I attended the Goce Delcev junior school which is today known as Majke Jugovica school The school was positioned in a good location in Zemunski park and that’s where I made many good friends We were positioned alongside the river near Jugoslavija hotel where I learned to play the guitar seeing how that was the meeting place for guys who loved to play whenever someone new came along you’d learn new tricks from them They were my friends from a different time - Coki Nobody except for myself from our original crew went on to work in music professionally What’s interesting that the high-school you attended wasn’t your first choice I wanted to enlist in Zemunska gimnazija high-school where Lokner’s mother taught mathematics when I was 15 years old I already had long hair and Zemunska gimnazija didn’t approve of that - you had to have a neat hairstyle The principal would stand at the school gate and measure if anyone had longer than standard hairstyle - like down to the neck but rather went to Druga beogradska high-school in Zeleni venac I was accepted there and I had a good transportation line - bus line 15 which stopped in my street and went directly to the school so it was easy to commute It was at that time that you formed your first band “TNT” was born when I was in second grade of high-school That was when Zika Milenkovic came along as the lead singer and his friend Toma on the keyboard Soon we also formed the band “Ofi” which we named for Toma’s nickname ‘ofinger’ which we all thought was adorable Our first gig was at the Design high-school where Zika attended Although I started making my own music from the moment I picked up the guitar “Dvadeseta noc” and “Kisni bluz” were my first two songs I played with that band for around 3-4 years and we rehearsed in the atomic shelter inside a skyscraper in Zemun where Dragan Djeric Djera We plastered egg cartons all over the walls and played One time we were playing for the 25th of May at Fontana and Misa Aleksic from the famous SOS band was the sound guy for us total nobodies back then He got on my nerves terribly back then and I could’ve never suspected we’d become friends Namely back then he’d sit with some girl at the mixing board and let her mess with the reglers any way she pleased I was like “This guy from ‘SOS’ ruined our show!” guitarist from “Riblja corba” and with him I had a band called “Glogov kolac” Back then vampire movies were popular so the name was the product of its time We played top 20 rock songs and held a few gigs in small towns around Vojvodina where I played the bass When I saved up a bit of money I bought a Fender Precision bass and Marshall which was solid equipment for the time so I ended up playing with many bends for months at a time Rajko left to play with Misa Aleksic and Vicko Milatovic and Bora Djordjevic was thrown out of the “Suncokret” band which didn’t happen often seeing how all the songs were his Then he made - and I still remember those posters - “Bora Djordjevic + SOS = Riblja corba” They also played foreign rock hits and I joined them per Rajko’s suggestion We played in various events around Vojvodina because every village had a cinema and it was normal to stage dances on the weekends I’d go out on the stage with Bora when “Riblja corba” block would start I know we played with “Corba” in over 50 different locations one year alone I came to “Corba” when their first album was already done and they’d recorded the single “Lutka sa naslovne strane” but I still got to be on the album cover even though I hadn’t played anything in it There was also a good chance I didn’t make the band at all because they were actually looking for a keyboard player But somebody told them that “Bijelo dugme” had a keyboard player and that they should go for a guitarist instead and be more like the “Stones” and other heavy bands The first album I worked on with “Riblja corba” was “Pokvarena masta i prljave strasti” which we recorded at Enca Lesic’s studio “Druga maca” I did music for three songs from that album - “Evo ti za taxi” or more precisely - your father was a pilot My late father was happy that I was playing music but he wasn’t too enthused about me doing it professionally But he knew I loved it and he supported and helped me whenever I needed him I bought my first professional guitar when I joined “Corba” Before that I had a Gibson but it wasn’t in the best shape Then I bought a Les Paul guitar that cost 2000 Deutsche Marks back then I got the money thanks to my grandma who sent me some cash when she sold some estate in Slavonia and my father who put aside a bit for me when I filled in the weather forcast with him and got 11 hits Dad also added 1000 Deutsche Marks on top of it all My dad drove a Volga instead of a Mercedes so it was very important to me to pay him back After only a few months of playing with “Corba” I got enough to pay him back and I was so proud of myself Things were just starting to heat up when mandatory military service came along Misa and Rajko had to go serve in the military I had a year off during which I corresponded with Bora and he sent me lyrics so I could make music for them What’s interesting was that it was during this period that we recorded the single “Natrag u veliki prljavi grad” when Misa was on leave and Rajko slipped out from his division in Sarajevo to fly over for two days He would’ve gotten away with it too if one of our friends who was a journalist didn’t take a picture with us in Sumatovac and publish it under the headline “Riblja corba makes new single” Rajko went back to the garrison and had to serve 15 days in prison for escaping You postponed your military service by enlisting in college I started working professionally in music in 1977 and already next year I became a member of the Musicians’ Association and realized I probably won’t be graduating from college I enlisted because of military service and tried first in the history of art department but they didn’t accept me Then I enlisted in nuclear physics in the Natural sciences and math college which was insane because I failed my first year of high-school because of math which I then failed twice on the make-up exam - and the professor wasn’t that fond of me I would’ve been ‘Very good’ in school if not for maths Then I enlisted in physical chemistry which nobody wanted to study They had like 10 free spots and only five of us applied and we all got in Then I enlisted in Yugoslavian and world literature and even attended class Misa and Rajko came back from the military and we started doing gigs We played a lot all the time and I think we probably had the most held concerts between all the musicians of our time I started out when I was just 18 years old and in those first years with “Corba” we held like 200-220 concerts per year We had some ‘Furgon’ van that didn’t have windows and only had a bench in the back that we’d squeeze into Your third album ‘Mrtva priroda’ made quite the ‘boom’ across the state back then It sold in 470.000 copies despite the fact that we published  it for PGP which wasn’t very capable in terms of sales Everyone told us that we would’ve sold up to 600.000 if we published with Jugoton You crossed over to that publishing house with your album “Muzicari koji piju” but the band situation wasn’t great Bora understood that I had an interest and a gift for writing lyrics and music and he was extremely understanding with me but he also criticized me when I made something subpar We became really close and made a lot of songs together I think I made music for over 20 of Bora’s lyrics in the six years that I was with them We recorded the album “Muzicari koji piju” in Ljubljana and the band atmosphere already wasn’t right Before all of that I rented an apartment in Kosovska street and moved away from my parents’ home There I had one room with a small magnetophone which could record four channels on tapes and I used it to make demos who would come to my flat and I’d play for him everything I recorded One morning he came to me and said let’s go to PGP to schedule a term for album recording seeing how I wasn’t that well known back then especially Miroslav Ilic who was their biggest star recording in the famous Studio 5 a good part of the album “Positivna geografija” was recorded in my flat in Kosovska because back then programing was on the rise and we had LinnDrum a rhythm machine that Bata Kovac had and which gave a sound that was pretty faithful to a real drum He wasn’t a producer but he had a lot of good advice for me Back then Zika and Cvele played with me and Loki was serving in the military so Bata played the keyboards for our first album Loki was back from the military and our front setup consisted of Zika Vlada Golubic the drummer and Nele the guitarist Our manager who - as advised by the famous Peca Popovic who named the group - was Sasa Dragic When I made the band there existed some group called Fun Boy Three where three guys sang together I liked that a lot so we made “Pozitivna geografija” after their example After that we got the offer to play for New Year’s in Dom omladine where our opening group was the band “U skripcu” That’s when Sasa Habic came along who was already well-known as an excellent young producer So we made an agreement with him and Bata Kovac and the two of them worked on our second album What’s interesting is that the idea behind your first album wasn’t to start a new band but the circumstances were such that you ended up leaving “Riblja corba” I thought that the first album would be my solo album from “Riblja corba” When I was in Ljubljana where we recorded “Muzicari koji piju” Seeing how “Corba” got to mix an album in London thanks to Jugoton I didn’t go with them but rather stayed in Belgrade and did the concert in Dom sindikata without meaning to make it a long-term thing Then everyone from “Corba” came back and we toured Yugoslavia in March for four months The deal was that we all gather again in September When I returned to Belgrade I found out that “Corba” was looking for me because they wanted me to go to Greece with them for a gig But I’d promised to play ten labor actions with the “Instructors” and didn’t want to call it off I bought a newspaper and read the headline “Rajko and Bajaga no longer play in Croba” but there was never a specific fight between us - we just stopped playing together How difficult was the beginning of “Bajaga i instruktori” I have to admit looking back I had a lot of courage and I believed in what I did I know that my engagement in “Corba” was at least twice as profitable for one concert on tour than it was for our entire band when we played in those labor actions I had to give up my apartment in Kosovska and go back to living with my parents But already with my second album and the concert in Tasmajdan we started doing well and I managed to create a band I’ve stuck with for 37 years now You went on a very important tour in USSR in 1987 three years after the beginning of Bajaga i instruktori Back then we still had an agreement between “Gost koncert” the only concert agency in USSR and our “Jugo koncert” so our musicians like Djordje Marjanovic the Indexes and others would hold concerts there organized by them There was an audition where you’d prepare a program and a committee would evaluate it We played many concerts in USSR during those two months - sometimes up to three per day We crossed many kilometers and there were even times when we spent days on the train and then hours on a plane so we performed in Russia It was a huge experience and I can say I really started singing there In “Corba” I was the guitarist and backup singer so I was a bit spooked by singing because it never used to be my priority But in this tour and thanks to the many concerts we held I really got my vocal color and strength formed Vocal cords are also a muscle which can be trained by singing We really came into our own as a band during that tour There were also many unusual situations during that tour we’d arrive in Kiev and play in a hall which was their equivalent of our Pionir hall I asked how that’s possible when nobody here knew about us They told us the audience doesn’t even know the program or whether it would be basketball They buy tickets for three months in advance and show up There was a huge audience for not a lot of events It was also interesting to me that girls would constantly bring us flowers on the stage Then I found out that in most halls getting up from your seat wasn’t allowed but it was allowed if you were bringing flowers to the stage bring us flowers and get seen by everyone on stage They brought us flowers for their own sake And so we’d end up with tons of flowers after the concert and get approached by a babushka who sold the flowers We’d give them back to her and she’d re-sell it to the next audience During this tour your famous song “Ruski voz” was born This city is located only 80km away from Chernobyl where the disaster struck just a year earlier We heard that it was good to have lots of vodka because of radiation Prohibition of some kind was in effect back then and I don’t even know how we managed to get illegal vodka Either way Zika had the melody and I went to his room where we drank a lot I wrote lyrics and that’s how the song came to be You are one of the song-writers whose lyrics have the most varied interpretations Does that stem from the fact that your songs are very socially aware I wrote all my songs depending on how I was feeling at the time I never felt the need to explain them because I feel that everyone should interpret them how they feel is right and that everyone’s interpretation is valid There aren’t many of my songs that are actually dedicated to anything specific they’re mostly about what was going through my mind at the time he was one of the most prolific composers of that time would write them but even she couldn’t keep up So I did over 20 sets of lyrics for Bata’s music He’d put in marks in syllables how the melody should go and didn’t let me change a single thing I’d write an entire song and one word should have three syllables but in his lyrics it has to have two I asked him if I could change it and he said no looked for different ways and that’s how I mastered the technique of writing I wrote about how I felt and what I thought Some things are completely misinterpreted by people and others are spot on The important thing is that the songs themselves stick In the movie “Mi nismo andjeli” you are mentioned as one of the “Notable hunks of Belgrade” It’s a cult-status movie and I’m glad to be mentioned It’s probably because it was a popular culture reference at the time since we were a famous band I guess I had a bit of a ‘good boy’ reputation seeing how I was a rock musician who didn’t cause any scandals while on the other hand punk was very popular and very misunderstood by older generations I like to make music for them and I was always happy to be called The first feature film I worked on was for Misa Radivojevic’s “Ni na nebu ni na zemlji” where the song “Moji su drugovi” originated I was always lucky to have hit songs from those movies I did the music for his movie “Profesionalac” and now I’m working for “Nije lose biti covek” a movie that’s not finished yet and the singers will be Lena Kovacevic and Gordan Kicic Of course then there’s the movie “Hotel Beograd” and what’s interesting about that is that the song “Darja” which has over 10 million views didn’t make it into the movie they’d already edited the movie and then it was put into the credits for the Serbian version I felt bad that it didn’t make it into the movie itself “Buha” and “Terazije theatre” like for the musical “Zenidba i udadba” and now for “S druge strane jastuka” whose script was written by Steva Koprivica We managed to do a big concert in Belgrade which was a huge wish of mine Last year we had three gigs during Covid times we had 40 concerts and that was our poorest season so far Rijeka and Belgrade and there will be more concerts during the summer During the pandemic we finished up music for Dusko Kovacevic’s new movie that will premier in December and with Sasa Lokner I finished music for the play “Macak u cizmama” for the Buha theatre For now we’ve got one song and we’re moving ahead at full speed copywriter and instructor for the business use of social networks He cut his teeth in written communication working as a journalist and following various internal and international political topics He has worked with various national and international printed and online media Ivan is the editor for the book “Sifra Ceremonyal” and over the last few years he has specialized in web copywriting and marketing on social networks The workers of the companies "Čistoća" and "Communal housing" today started decorating the exterior and interior of the Španjola fortress A total of 16 workers from both companies were engaged cleaning areas from thrown and uncontrolled waste and removing it they have already brought the fortress of Španjola to a significantly better condition today "The intention is to improve the overall environment for the stay of tourists and our citizens and the tour of this fortification," the local administration announced Španjola fortress or Gornji grad was built in the 16th century The fortress got its current appearance during the period of the second rule of the Turks (from 1548) The Turks then demolished the smaller fortress and built a new one as evidenced by the oriental architecture and the Arabic inscription above the entrance The fortress offers an exceptional view of the entrance to the Bay of Kotor the Spanish company Paradores was interested in doing a feasibility study for the revitalization of the Fortress This would greatly help to find an investor for the project of rehabilitation and adaptation of the fortress from the 16th-century Gornji Grad (old town/upper town) to a lower town replete with Austro-Hungarian art nouveau and equally beguiling socialist-style haunts Throw in a cafe (caffe)/salon (kavana) culture an enchanting boho heritage and a rescinded smoking-ban (because too many people stopped going out) and you have a scene ideal for the arty traveller The Saturday/Sunday morning flea market on Britanski trg (British Square) is a five-minute walk from the centre Here you can rummage through socialist stamps and coins It's as if Balkan history has been given a good shake and this is what fell out Then put some fresh air in your lungs with a walk up the hill to Rokov Perivoj park behind the square is a bus ride away on the 295 to Hrelic/Jakusevac a place of offbeat happenings and exhibitions and only £1.10 if you've already visited Broken Relationships not only for its retro space-station design but for its big name exhibitions currently Karim Rashid's Ideology of Beauty British Airways start daily direct flights from Heathrow to Zagreb on 9 December thanks to the collaboration between MÁV (Hungarian State Railways) and Croatia’s national railway company the Zagreb Advent Express will operate from Pécs to Zagreb once again On 14 December 2024, MÁV will launch its special train to the Zagreb Christmas market, which will include a dining car offering a festive menu and mulled wine for passengers to enjoy, Pénzcentrum reports and Gyékényes before arriving at the Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor station The return trip is expected around 11:00 PM Ticket prices with seat reservations for a round-trip journey from any departure station in Hungary are as follows: Zagreb’s Christmas market has long attracted holiday enthusiasts from all over the world having earned the title of “Europe’s Best Advent Market” three times between 2016 and 2018 Spread across various locations in the city including cultural and historical landmarks as well as parks from gastronomic delights to cosy concerts and family-friendly events The enchanting atmosphere attracts not only locals but also increasingly more international visitors each year who find the proximity and unmatched holiday ambience to be the perfect complement to the city’s charm serves as one of the central locations for the Advent market The square’s main attraction is the large while festive lights create a magical atmosphere alongside hot beverages like the famous Croatian mulled wine (kuhano vino) and rakija Visitors can also enjoy live music performances Zrinjevac Park is one of the most romantic spots in Zagreb’s Advent celebration where lights hanging from trees and the music pavilion in the centre of the park create an intimate ambience The park features beautifully crafted gifts making it a popular spot for couples and families Visitors can also sample Croatian desserts offers visitors a unique and charming experience during the Advent season Narrow streets adorned with candles and lights lead to art exhibitions and cultural programs showcasing local artists and historical buildings The Old Town is a favourite for culture enthusiasts seeking an authentic holiday experience Tomislav Square transforms into a magical ice rink one of the most exciting attractions of Zagreb’s Advent season The rink offers a fun experience for both children and adults especially in the evening when the festive lights and music add to the enchantment Visitors can warm up with hot drinks at nearby stands making it the perfect spot for mulled wine or warm tea The rink is particularly popular with active visitors who want to enjoy winter sports while soaking in the Christmas atmosphere The market offers a variety of traditional Croatian Christmas treats sarma (stuffed cabbage with mashed potatoes) and steamed dumplings filled with plum jam and topped with vanilla sauce The market also features classic fair foods like grilled sausages Featured image: depositphotos.com Y"},"category":false,"taxonomy":{"active":false,"name":"category"}},"markup":{"custom_html":true,"wpp-start":"","wpp-end":"<\/ul>","title-start":"","title-end":"<\/h2>","post-html":"{thumb} {title} {stats}<\/span>{excerpt}<\/p><\/li>"},"theme":{"name":""}} You have successfully joined our subscriber list SupportUs Newsletter © 2025 DailyNewsHungary | All rights reserved City of Zagreb has a high level of seismic activity Based on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 381 quakes on average per year in or near City of Zagreb City of Zagreb has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 60 to 65 years City of Zagreb has about 22.4 quakes of magnitude 3 or higher per year The quake had a very shallow depth of 7.2 km (4.5 mi) and was too small to be felt by people City of Zagreb was shaken by 1 quake of magnitude 4.2 There have been also 42 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was felt widely in the area.