Look (but do not touch) in the Museum of Ancient Glass; visit one of the prized buildings of Zadar, the 13th century Rector's Palace; find your favorite object in the permanent exhibition of the Gold and Silver of Zadar; "ora and labora" making Pag lace and so many more.
Discover the story behind different museums of the Zadar region.
The Gold and Silver of Zadar permanent exhibition is definitely a must.
But, while there, look for another type of treasure – the history behind the story. The treasure was not kept by kings and emperors – but by nuns! The treasure of Zadar history is inseparable from the Benedictine convent of St. Mary and its nuns guardians. Their shared history goes back to the time of the Byzantine Empire. In newer history, the Benedictines once again proved essential when they hid the treasure in a deep hole under the church bell tower during the bombings of the Allies in 1943. Many items that have been preserved with love, knowledge and pride have great value. But for the people of Zadar, the most valuable item is the so-called Čika’s cross. Although small in size and without gems, it has held a special meaning for the people here since the 8th century. Find your favourite item while you find out more about the history of this treasure.
The story and women behind Pag lace is as interesting as the lace itself!
Pag lace has fascinated for centuries – it used to be valued by emperors and now it is valued by the whole world. Probably mainly due to the fact that only a few women know how to make it. Pag’s lace-makers say that not even a computer could repeat the pattern they create each time. It comes from a time long before computers – the 16th century. The Benedictines of Saint Mary were the first teachers in the town and they formed a school for girls where they taught, among many other things, lace making. Since then, they have been praised for their hard work which was passed on from generation to generation. If you are looking for a different kind of souvenir, this is it! The lace can be purchased in one of the gift shops in the town of Pag, and we recommend you visit the Benedictine nuns at the Convent of Santa Margherita, who were the main initiators of the lace craft in Pag and its style. The nuns have always been protectors of heritage and besides lace, they also protected a rich collection of sacral art presented in a Permanent exhibition. In honour of the 700th anniversary of the establishment of the Benedictine Convent of St. Margarita in Pag, a permanent exhibition of sacral art was opened. Besides being able to see lace and interesting exhibits such as relics, paintings and sculptures at the Benedictine convent in Pag, this is also the ideal opportunity to experience the lifestyle of the Benedictine nuns who follow the motto "ora et labora". For example, they make the famous baškotin, which is a type of sweet toast made according to the Benedictine nuns' special recipe, which has been made for more than 300 years. Sweeten up your excursion of traditional Croatia art with an authentic Croatian delicacy!
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