Zadar and Nin

 

While we were in Petrčane, not only did we frequent the beach, we also made a few day trips to Zadar and one to Nin. In Zadar we shopped at the outdoor market a few times (we got delicious cherries on our second visit!), and we spent one morning on a walking tour of the old town. The Greeks, Romans, Venetians... they were all in the area and each built on top of the other. In fact, we learned, Zadar is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. I was fascinated by the ruins scattered throughout the old town, and how each new settlement usually built using the older settlement's existing stones and columns. 

 

Roman forum in the heart of old town Zadar

Church of St. Donatus (9th century) built right next to the Roman forum using the forum's stones

Blessed roman columns reused to build this church

A 16th-century Venetian building on one of the main squares in the old town

One of Zadar's old town squares

Our tour of the old town ended with a stroll on Zadar's modern boardwalk, just a two-minute walk from the Roman forum. There are several art installations here. My favorite was the sound art of the Sea Organ, which is series of pipes built underneath the seawall steps. The pipes play as the sea rolls in and out, so the tune is always changing and the volume goes up and down, depending on the wind and wave action. I love the idea that you can translate the physics of that motion into musical sound.

Piano keys to sit on as you enjoy the view of the sea. The Sea Organ is just over the seawall. 

One of Zadar's marinas

On the morning of our walking tour, we stopped for some delicious pastries near the old town market. and later we returned to one of the shops there to pick up some Pag cheese (Paški sir -- a delicious hard cheese made from sheep's milk on nearby Pag Island) and some Ajvar, a roasted red pepper spread that goes with everything (I love this stuff and could eat it all day long!). 

Before we left Petrčane, we also made a quick run to the Zadar mall. It wasn't exciting in itself, but I love seeing what stores there are and looking at the displays in the windows. The Zadar mall felt familiar as most modern malls do, all the way down to the crowded parking garage, food court, cinema, and T-Mobile store. 

Nin was one of our other day trips. It's a beautiful small town with an old square, Roman ruins, and nearby beaches. We had a relaxing stroll, followed by a nice cold beer and sparkling water on the square. (It was a hot day!) 

Just parked and heading to the foot bridge

Nin's old town

City wall and gate from the 1st century

Ruins of the largest Roman temple on the eastern Adriatic coast 

We're off to Krka National Park...