Indietro

Zadar - Architecture of Living

Experience Zadar County through architecture shaped by everyday life, history and local identity.

Day 1 – Arrival on the Zadar Riviera
Arrival on the Zadar Riviera and accommodation in a hotel in the area of Zadar, Biograd na Moru or Petrčane. Free time allows for a gradual introduction to the destination, where the sea, stone and urban structure have intertwined for centuries. A relaxed walk along the waterfront offers the first encounter with the spatial and cultural context of the programme.

Day 2 – Zadar | A Layered Urban Landscape
After breakfast, a guided tour of the historic core of Zadar, a city founded on Roman origins and shaped through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Venetian period and modern times. Walking through stone-paved streets reveals the UNESCO-listed city walls, a testament to the city’s strategic importance, and leads to St. Donatus Church, one of the most significant examples of Early Christian architecture in the region.
The programme continues with visits to St. Anastasia’s Cathedral, a centuries-old religious and cultural centre, as well as the churches of St. Mary and St. Chrysogonus, both preserving outstanding artistic and architectural heritage. Particular emphasis is placed on the dialogue between historical and modern architecture, illustrated by views of the Bagat Tower Block, a modernist and brutalist structure contrasting with the historic urban fabric.
A walk along the Zadar waterfront concludes at the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun, contemporary architectural interventions that symbolise the city’s present-day identity and its relationship with natural elements.

Day 3 – Pag & Nin | Stone and Salt
After breakfast, departure for Pag Island and the town of Nin, areas where architecture is directly shaped by a rugged landscape, salt production and the sea. In Nin, participants explore the historic centre and the smallest cathedral in the world, a symbol of early medieval heritage and the role of the Church in shaping space.
A visit to the Salt Museum provides insight into centuries-old salt production as a key economic activity, while encounters with the traditions of Pag lace-making and cheese production reveal the strong connection between craftsmanship, precision and everyday life. A tasting of local products further connects architecture, gastronomy and identity into a cohesive experience.

Day 4 – Tribanj & Paklenica | The Sub-Velebit Region and Vernacular Architecture
The journey continues into the sub-Velebit region, characterised by vernacular architecture, dry-stone walls and settlements adapted to a harsh karst environment. Passing through Tribanj, participants observe the structure of fishing villages and the ways communities have organised life between mountain and sea.
In the Paklenica and Marasovići area, museum exhibitions and local interpretations highlight the relationship between the natural environment and traditional ways of living. Lunch in a local tavern emphasises the role of simple, seasonal and sustainable cuisine as an integral part of the living space.

Day 5 – Biograd, Pašman & Ugljan | The Waterfront as a Living Space
The day begins with a ferry crossing from Biograd na Moru to Tkon on Pašman Island, followed by crossing the Pašman Bridge and continuing to Preko on Ugljan Island. Walks through coastal settlements highlight the waterfront as a central architectural and social space - a place of trade, encounters, daily life and local identity.
Lunch in a fishermen’s tavern offers an authentic experience of maritime gastronomy, featuring local seafood and traditional recipes. The day concludes with a ferry return Preko – Zadar.

Day 6 – Zadar Hinterland | Castles, Inns and Trade Routes
After breakfast, departure for the Zadar hinterland, an area marked by fortification and trade architecture. Visits to Islam Grčki and the Tower of Stojan Janković, Benković Castle, and the Mašković Han in Vrana provide insight into systems of defence, commerce and travel that shaped the interior of the county.
These sites testify to the strategic importance of the region and the adaptation of architecture to historical circumstances and community needs.

Day 7 – Zadar Riviera | Departure
After breakfast, the programme concludes. Participants depart with a comprehensive understanding of architecture as a record of everyday life, carrying with them impressions of urban centres, island waterfronts, stone villages and landscapes where past and present naturally intertwine.

The Price includes

6 half-board accommodations in hotels according to the programme
Professionally guided tours and interpretation of architectural heritage
4 organised lunches in local taverns, aligned with the programme theme and visited areas
Entrance fees for museums and cultural-historical sites included in the itinerary
All land and ferry transfers according to the programme

Napomena

The programme is intended for guests interested in architecture, culture and local ways of life
Activities involve moderate walking in urban and rural environments
The programme is particularly suitable for pre- and post-season travel