Zagreb, Croatia

by Melissa Enderle

 Arts of Zagreb

As you walk around Zagreb, you will see many visual reminders of the 20th century sculpture Ivan Mestrovic. In addition to designing a wealth of public sculptures in town squares, he also designed several buildings, including the Croatian History Museum of Zagreb.

Typical of Eastern Europe, the residents of Zagreb love their flowers. Young and old alike could be seen buying fresh bouquets of spring flowers from small shops in the city squares. On Palm Sunday, most could be seen carrying a bundle of olive branches and what looked to be pussy willows.

The music of Croatia is a hodge podge of different influences. A lively Slavic round dance known as the kolo is accompanied by Roma-style violinists or players of the tambura, a Croatian mandolin. Below are some photos of traditional dancers and musicians, wearing the colorfully embroidered costumes.

While in Zagreb, small shops or stalls display souvenirs typical of  the city. Pick up a lavender sachet (Croatia grows some of the best lavender), embroidered cloth, or a Licitar heart. These traditional cookies are brightly-painted inedible works of art, typically formed as hearts but are also shaped into baby or wheel shapes. Near Ilica Street, vendors at Easter sell seasonal ceramics (moulded and hand-made) and painted wooden or ceramic eggs. Other good picks include truffles and wine, with varied regional specialties throughout the country.