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Your up-to-the-minute guide to Croatia news, culture, events and happenings

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  • Things to do
  • Events & Festivals

For the first time, the Croatian capital is staging the Opera Europe Festival, the most prestigious annual gathering for those in the industry. From today, March 18, more than 70 directors, producers and professionals in the international field will be meeting over six days at the ornate Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. All are members of the world’s largest association of opera houses and festivals, Opera Europa, and will be sharing their ideas at two joint sessions, an Opera Management Course and the Artistic Administration and Producing Forum, running until March 23. “The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb continues to be an active partner of numerous European projects and initiatives,” said the theatre director of the HNK in Zagreb, Iva Hraste Sočo. “We are proud that the workof our theatre is recognised by colleagues from all over the world.” Topics for discussion include programming and planning, financial management, human and administrative issues, marketing and communications, and management of creative and business processes. The Croatian National Theatre grew out Zagreb’s first playhouse set up 190 years ago, in 1834. Created by famed Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellmer and Herman Helmer, this elegant landmark was built in 1895, its opening taking place in the presence of Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph.

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  • Events & Festivals

It’s St Patrick’s Day! While the festivities proper are on Sunday, March 17, the whole weekend is punctuated with events and concerts for all to enjoy. Have a gander at these four lively options! Three-day fun at Harat's Harat’s Pub is Zagreb’s most popular Irish hostelry, right in the heart of town. With a spacious interior, Harat’s also has an absolutely huge outdoor seating space when the weather permits. They’ve arranged for a three-day run to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, with Friday and Saturday’s entertainment provided by Bocca Sofistifunk and DJ Benc respectively, with El Diablo takeing over on Sunday. Note that reservations are only possible for the 17th, with the rest being on a first come, first serve basis.Where: Kaptol 4, Trg Petrice Kerempuha. When: All weekend. Among the Irish at Sheridan's Opened by Irish national Adrian Sheridan, Sheridan’s bills itself as ‘The Only Real Irish Pub in Croatia’. True or not, it’s easy to see what they mean – run by Irish nationals, this relatively small locale is always bouncing with energy during events, not least St Patrick’s Day. Sheridan’s is inviting any and all to come celebrate with the Irish on Sunday, with no bells and whistles attached – come drink, dance and enjoy a proper St Patrick’s Day experience.Where: Savska cesta 36. When: Sunday, March 17. Jurica Galoic/PIXSELLIrish flag projected on Zagreb fountain Local Irish band at Hard Place On Saturday, Zagreb band Belfast Food will be leading the entertainment at Hard

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  • Art
  • Art

At first glance, the narrow twisting streets of Vodnjan, 10km north of Pula, look like those in any similarly tranquil town in Istria: steep, historic and fairly empty except in high season. But look closer, and you’ll spot a series of murals created by some of Europe’s top urban artists. Paris-based Jean-Michel Ouvry and Sébastien Touache, Berlin collective Centrifuga, and Jahwan, best known for his work in Odessa, these all have works decorating the façades of this hilltop community. Then there's Stipan Tadić, integral to the huge movement of street art in his home city of Zagreb. Loris Zupanc Whereas the Croatian capital has long been associated with this kind of urban creativity, Vodnjan, thanks to its many galleries and active art scene, has been just as involved in its own way. Prime mover in this was the Street Art and Boombarstick Festival, which spanned three years from 2013 to 2015, showcasing 250 artists contributing 24 vibrant murals across town. Even though the festival has not been held since, you can download a detailed map to follow the murals as you tour Vodnjan. While the future of Boombarstick isn’t clear, an event in similar vein, B Urban Graffiti Jam, still takes place most summers, when contemporary gallery El Magazéin at Portarol ulica 33 hosts exhibitions, concerts, poetry readings, book presentations and fashion shows.

  • Things to do
  • Events & Festivals

Zagreb’s Festival of Lights is just one week away. This visually striking annual event ushers in the spring in the capital, and is one of the most unique experiences the city has to offer. It’s the opening salvo of a travelling festival which culminates in Berlin in October, with Sofia sandwiched in between in May.This year’s edition will sprawl across Zagreb with a total of 29 distinct installations for visitors to enjoy. A look at the English-friendly website will give you a preview of each one, including Lighthouse, that will transform the historic Lotrščak Tower in the Upper Town into a beacon, a constant symbol of hope and marking the beginning of another festival. Slavko Midzor/PIXSELLFestival of Lights 2023 Occupying prime real estate at Trg Kralja Tomislava, Rhythm and Measurement of Light by incredible ‘land and light’ artist Javier Riera will project an entrancing and calming series of geometric patterns onto the rear face of the Art Pavilion. Another pair of enticing installations are both from Slovakian artist sedemminut. Universum on Gajeva ulica promises a 'light orchestra' of 50 illuminated spheres reflecting from a pool of water beneath it, aiming to introduce a harmonious dynamism to its surrounding static environment, while For Peace at Ribnjak park will portray a series of figures in various running motions, beginning slowly at a strolling pace and culminating in a sprint of light. Zagreb’s Festival of Light is a wonderful spectacle and creates an excitin

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With St Patrick’s Day approaching this weekend, Pula will be celebrating the occasion as heartily as any city – only this one has special ties to Ireland’s most famous writer. He may have only stayed for half a year, but James Joyce once graced Pula, just as he did Trieste, Zürich and Paris. It was 120 years ago that Joyce, then 22, arrived here with his new love Nora Barnacle, to take up a post teaching English at the Berlitz School. They had left Dublin in October 1904, stopping off in London and Paris, then heading to Zürich for Joyce to work at the Berlitz School there. With no job available, Joyce tried in Trieste before being sent on to nearby Pula, then referred to as Pola, a major naval base in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They arrived on October 30. The school had just opened, mainly to cater to the naval officers who required a higher standard of English. One of these was the later autocratic leader of Hungary, Admiral Horthy, head of the country between the wars. For Joyce, teaching English was simply a means to an end, to allow him to keep writing. It was here that he completed Clay, one of the 15 short stories that would comprise his first published work, Dubliners. Dusko Marusic/PIXSELL It would be ten years before the collection saw the light of day. In the meantime, Joyce continued to teach. By December 1904, Nora discovered she was pregnant. Impoverished and miserable in Pula, Joyce described it as a ‘naval Siberia’ when writing to his aunt on New Year’s E

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Now in its 20th year, Dubrovnik’s Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Nutrition, Medicinal Herbs and Green Entrepreneurship has expanded its remit over the last two decades but remains focused on the promotion and production of high-quality medicinal herbs and organic food for which the region is famous. For 2024, the four-day event is being held at the luxury Rixos Premium Dubrovnik Hotel, running from the opening presentations at 10am on Wednesday, March 13, to participants packing up their stalls at 5pm on Saturday, March 16. In between, top chefs from Croatia, Italy and Montenegro give a gastro show at 12.30pm on Thursday, while the Friday programme is given over to solar energy from 10am. This major showcase for organic agriculture and entrepreneurship gained its reputation early on, when it launched a resolution back in 2005 make the surrounding Dubrovnik-Neretva County GM-free, a policy that was later adopted across the area. Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Nutrition, Medicinal Herbs and Green Entrepreneurship. March 13-16. Rixos Premium Dubrovnik Hotel, Liechtensteinov put 3, 20000 Dubrovnik.

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  • Shopping
  • Shopping & Style

Pre-owned clothing is still very much in. For some, secondhand shops represent a chance to find great items on a budget – for others, they're an opportunity to grab a rare find unavailable anywhere else. Zagreb caters to all trends and tastes. Here are five great places to find what you’re looking for! Women’s vintage at La Roba Situated in the district of Trešnjevka, La Roba is a colourful sight as soon as you enter. Holding exclusively women’s clothing, it sources its items both locally and from across Europe, and places its focus on vintage, retro and pin-up styles. Some items hail from the Yugoslav-era Balkans, and La Roba also offers a range of accessories such as necklaces, earrings and an assortment of handbags. For the rarity and quality of its collection, prices are reasonable. making this a perfect spot for those with an eye for great retro fashion.Where: Ozaljska 114Open: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-2pm Jan Bantić/Time Out Croatia Convenience at Textile House If you’re looking for absolutely anything and everything, Textile House is for you. The only chain of shops on this list, TH initially began as a textile-sorting company in 1996 and has since expanded across multiple European countries, offering an extremely large range of clothes and footwear. With nine locations in Zagreb, concentrated in and around the centre of town, they can't be beat for convenience and price. Don’t get the impression that its offerings are simply thrown onto the racks – the sorting pro

  • Sport and fitness
  • Sport & Fitness

To explore Croatia by sea is to reveal its true secrets. Croatia has it all – the range of sailing options, the spectacular scenery, the unspoiled bays, the myriad islands and, most importantly, clear, calm and clean waters around them. Europe’s finest sailing playground is affordable, relatively safe (at sea and on shore) and contains a diversity of destinations for all kinds of visitors. Novice sailors can charter a boat with a qualified skipper, potter around the islands, and find out as much, or as little, about sailing as they'd like. Those who are serious about learning to sail, or improving their skills, can take a course at one of the sailing schools. Sailors of varying abilities, wanting the security and bonhomie of a group, can join a flotilla holiday. If your party includes someone with a skipper’s ticket there’s a multitude of charter options, with yachts and motorboats, while high rollers can take a fully crewed luxury yacht, classic or contemporary, and cruise the party hotspots. © Nature Park TelaščicaTelaščica on Kornati Where to go It’s surprising how much you can see in a week. The diverse appeal of Croatia’s 2,000 islands, islets and reefs, together with the varied mainland ports and anchorages, will leave you wanting to come back for more. In the north, the Istrian peninsula and Kvarner Bay have a high concentration of marinas and a more cosmopolitan feel than Dalmatia, due to the pervasive Italian influence. If gastronomy and culture are important, this

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  • Things to do
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This weekend, March 8-10, the historic Istrian settlement of Bale near Rovinj is hosting a three-day celebration of the local liqueur, Teranino. A mixture of dark, ruby-red Teran wine, Istrian brandy and secret spices, Teranino is sweet, aromatic and deceptively moreish. It can be sipped on its own, used as the essential ingredient in a cocktail or slipped into confectionery when making a cake. At its heart is the teran grape, grown for centuries in this western part of Istria, high in alcohol content and responsible for many award-winning wines of the same name. The Teranino Festival starts at 3pm on Friday, March 8, and will also feature other traditional regional products such as medica, a honey brandy, and biska, a local brandy based on mistletoe. Teranino Festival Where: Sportska dvorana, ulica Domenico Cerecca 3A, 52211 Bale. When: Friday, Mar 8, 3pm-9pm; Sat Mar 9, noon-9pm; Sun Mar 10, noon-7pm.

  • Things to do
  • City Life

Situated in the Maksimir, the capital’s sprawling city park, Zagreb Zoo is large enough to contain more than 7,000 animals from across the globe. Founded in 1925, with renovations as recently as 2016, this heritage attraction feels spacious as soon as you enter, walkways bending around sprawling enclosures. Though there is a recommended direction of travel, illustrated on this English-friendly map, the paths are well signposted to allow you to find all of your favourites first. In the various monkey enclosures, apes negotiate trees and neatly constructed climbing gyms, while reinforced glass means you can see right into the lion’s den. Josip Mikacic/PIXSELL Terrariums and vivariums contain slithering snakes, creepy crawlies and other curious creatures both native and foreign to Croatia. Two walk-in enclosures house lemurs and African birds, and a popular petting zoo sits at the very far end of the site. The zoo is currently setting up a new enclosure for grey wolves with a cabin-like observation point, one of a number of research and preservation programmes – the recent welcome the arrival of a king cobra and Komodo dragon links in with a project involving the European Association of Zoos & Aquaria. Zagreb also participates in a protection initiative for Komodo dragons on Komodo island itself, in Indonesia. Where: Maksimir, Fakultetsko dobro 1When: Daily 9am-5pmAdmission: €4 (€3 non-holiday Mondays); under-14s €3; under-6s €2. Free under-2s. Full list here

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