The festive season is coming up fast and we look ahead to share the plans of one city in Europe that knows how to throw a Christmas party: the Croatian capital Zagreb.
Fill your hearts with the spirit of Advent as the Zagreb streets, squares and parks are adorned with Christmassy delights. Visit the traditional Christmas markets that sell a wide range of Christmas gifts and enjoy the performances of choirs, drama ensembles and dance groups, all whilst nibbling on delicious treats and sipping mulled wine.
The city has coined the month-long celebration ‘Advent in Zagreb’, which consists of an array of events that attract an increasing number of foreign as well as Croatian guests to the Croatian capital in December. Each year, the number of events increases, so visitors of all generations, musical tastes and gastronomic affinities will find food, drinks and entertainment galore in the city streets, squares and parks.
The main events, beginning in late November and ending with the New Year’s celebrations, will take place on the main square of Ban Josip Jelačić, as well as the nearby romantic Zrinjevac Park. Between 29 November and 24 December, the main city square will feature concerts of various types of music, while the nearby Flower Square will be the venue for classical and jazz music performances. The beautiful Zrinjevac Park will attract visitors from late November until the first day of January. Romantic in its own right, it will be even more so thanks to the dance rhythms of waltzes, evergreens and classics.
Visitors will have plenty of opportunities to find those perfect holiday decorations and gifts, while the gastronomic offer will feature traditional Croatian dishes including štrukli and pasta with stewed cabbage among others, as well as a diverse range of wine, spirits and hot-chocolate?
In Tomićeva Street, which connects the longest street in Zagreb with the funicular (the fastest link with the Upper Town), visitors will be able to feel the relaxed atmosphere and enjoy both traditional and modern merchandise, food and drinks. Between 14 December 24 December, the nearby Square of the Victims of Fascism, whose landmark is the beautiful Meštrović Pavilion, built in 1938 by architect Ivan Meštrović, which is now the Home of Croatian Artists, will feature the Fair of Unconventional Artefacts, titled Artomat, where visitors will be able to buy objets d’art and also learn how to make their own.
Many other city streets and squares will feature differently themed holiday programmes, all with the same intention: to offer excellent entertainment, great shopping opportunities and perfect refreshments to be enjoyed in pleasant company. Also, special sightseeing bus tours have been arranged – passengers will hear stories and learn of the customs directly or indirectly tied to this most beautiful time of the year.
This is just a sample of what’s happening and new events are being added all the time. All news and other relevant information can be found online at www.adventzagreb.com in Croatian, English, German, Italian and Spanish languages.
