Zadar in Pictures: 63 Free Photos of the Sea Organ and Old Town
Zadar in 63 free photos. The old town of this Dalmatian city sits on a narrow peninsula, with the sea on three sides: Roman ruins and a ninth-century church on the Forum, Venetian gates and towers in the walls, polished stone streets full of cafes, and at the tip, two modern works that made Zadar famous, the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun.
Zadar at a glance
- Where: on the northern Dalmatian coast of Croatia, about 290 km south of Zagreb and 160 km north of Split.
- Getting there: Zadar airport is about 12 km from the centre, with summer flights from much of Europe; the A1 motorway passes just outside the city. Ferries cross to the islands of Ugljan, Pašman, Dugi Otok and beyond.
- Getting around: the old town is small and closed to most traffic, so you walk. A footbridge and little rowing boats, the barkajoli, cross the harbour to the newer part of town.
- When to go: May, June and September are warm without the August crowds. The sunset over the islands is the best show of the day all year round.
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The Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun
At the western tip of the peninsula, the architect Nikola Bašić turned the old seafront into two works of art. The Sea Organ, opened in 2005, hides 35 pipes under wide marble steps; the waves push air through them, and the sea plays a slow, endless chord. Next to it lies the Greeting to the Sun from 2008: a circle 22 metres across made of about 300 glass panels with solar cells, which store sunlight by day and light up in changing colours after dark. Alfred Hitchcock is said to have called the sunset here the most beautiful in the world.
The Roman Forum, St Donatus and the old town
Zadar was a Roman town, and the Forum, laid out under Augustus, is the largest on the eastern Adriatic. Stones and column fragments still lie in the grass, and one Roman column was used in the Middle Ages as the Pillar of Shame. Beside it stands the round Church of St Donatus from the ninth century, the symbol of the city, and the bell tower of St Anastasia’s Cathedral, which you can climb for a view over the roofs. The main street, Kalelarga, runs from the Forum to People’s Square with the City Loggia and the clock tower of the Town Guard, and the Land Gate of 1543 still carries the lion of Venice.
The seafront and the harbour
A stone promenade, the Riva, runs along the whole western side of the peninsula, shaded by pines and facing the islands of Ugljan and Pašman across the channel. People swim from the steps and the pebble beaches, and on the harbour side fishing boats, yachts and the island ferries tie up below the walls.
Tips for a first visit
- Come to the Sea Organ about an hour before sunset, find a step, and stay until the Greeting to the Sun lights up.
- Climb the cathedral bell tower in the morning, when the light is on the Forum and the islands.
- Try maraschino, the cherry liqueur made in Zadar since the 16th century.
- Zadar is a good base for day trips to Krka, the Kornati islands, Paklenica and Plitvice.
More free photos
- Croatia pictures
- The Sea Organ in Zadar
- Krka National Park pictures
- Kornati pictures
- Northern Velebit pictures
- Trogir pictures
- Free ocean and sea pictures
- Free city street pictures
Questions about these Zadar photos
Can I use these Zadar pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
Where is the Sea Organ in Zadar?
On the seafront at the western tip of the old town peninsula, a few minutes’ walk from the Forum. The Greeting to the Sun is right next to it.
How many days do you need in Zadar?
One day covers the old town, the Forum and a sunset at the Sea Organ; two or three days leave time for a boat trip to the islands or a day at Krka.
