Friends and strangers, Hello! If you are reading this I can only wish and hope you are planning a trip or just dreaming of an incredible escape. My name is Frances, I am a senior at Wofford College. I am an English major, and a business minor. Last fall I spent a dream of a semester in Rome, Italy. Rome as it has been for thousands of years is a cultural and artistic mecca, bursting at slightly crooked (sometimes smelly) seams with millions of people each day. While I could not have loved a place more, there are a few places only a plane ride away I didn't even know to love, until I was head over heels for places I couldn't have placed on a map. One of these hidden heart sparkles is Zadar, Croatia. Bring a good book, a better friend and easy attitude to explore and you will not have a better weekend in Europe.
Pictures nor words can do this smallish town on the northern dalmatian coast justice but I will attempt to describe its serenity. It's like the quiet cuteness of a sally rooney character personified meet the actual filming location of Mamma mia. Slightly understated at first, then charming, then flat out the most beautiful place you have ever been.
Friday:
From most major cities you will be able to book a direct flight into Zadar airport, which is firstly the easiest European airport you will experience. After the undoubtedly uncomfortable ryanair flight fortified with some cheap champagne, you will likely be tired as we were. If you are only in town for a weekend like me and my friend Janie were, the first night is for elevated lazy living. While Zadar does have hotels and airbnb, I strongly recommend doing a hostel. Zadar is a small town, and while there is some nightlife and the locals are extremely kind, the recommendations of other travelers or hostel workers are invaluable here. Zadar is special in that it was the safest city I have ever been to, US or abroad. It is also 100% walkable even outside of the city walls, the “suburbs” are still lively late. We personally stayed a mile and a half out of the city in a residential hostel.
Diklo beach is a public beach less than half a mile out of the city walls right next to many of the hostels. You can either go out to eat at one of the restaurants near it or pick up charcuterie and wine from the bodega immediately adjacent to it, and have a picnic on the dock or surprisingly comfortable rocky beach. A dip in the adriatic is heaven itself, and so is the fact that it is open carrying alcohol on the water.
Saturday:
The old town of Zadar deserves its own day to explore. It truly feels as if it is a hidden city as you cross the bridge over the water to see white sparkling stone that is both the walls and road of the entire peninsula.
While not not even a mile to the end, the town is just dense enough to explore for hours without being overwhelmed. Pickup breakfast or coffee on the way to enjoy the old town square. The Tower of Anastasia next to the church of St.Donat is a must see, a steep climb to the top of its tower allows you to see the entire town from a birds eye view.
Once your eyes and limbs adjust from the spins of the circular staircase, you can see the old roman forum next to the church. This town was heaven for anyone who appreciates history and almost incomprehensible ideas of how present and visible the past still is there. Wandering the streets you will come across the cutest cafes, bars and galleries. Inside an unnamed church local artists and artisans display their work and unique handmade jewelry.
The temporary gallery is called Galerija Izlozba Keramike. Across from the Kavana Sv. Love an 11th century church home to a bar using sarcophagus as space dividers is another gallery of which I don't know the name but is home to stunning rotating artists in residence.
The sea organ is what Zadar is known for, a permanent modern art audio exhibit is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. The walls of the stone dock are an instrument itself, played by the waves and currents of the water. It is halfway haunting and 100% beautiful.
From here you can walk the length of the town along the water, stopping in to swim right off the walls if you like. Map to Five Wells Square and there is a garden oasis seemingly out of nowhere, Janie and I explored this with the extremely well cared for city cats, wandering around for at least an hour. This will also be a good chance to see the park before it turns into the hub of nightlife later on. After eating at whatever delicious place you find yourself in, come back to the garden more specifically the Lounge and Bar Ledanca which is a permanent tent lit up with strobe lights though the garden and couches amongst the ancient statues and crumbling fortifications.
Have fun,
Franny
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