Discover The PEEK&POKE Computer Museum On Vacation In Rijeka

Croatia is famed for her beaches and her stunning and diverse landscape that ranges from towering peaks to lush green valleys blanketed with vineyards and olive groves to fascinating wetlands to impressive forests to semi-wild islands. The list of things to see and do outdoors is endless and appealing. However, while these are all reason enough to plan a getaway in Croatia, it is not all that there is to the country. Croatia is home to awe-inspiring Roman ruins, stunning Baroque churches, gorgeous gardens, pretty palaces, brilliant art collections, and a rich cultural heritage that can be warmly felt in many of the country's well-preserved historic centres and towns and villages. In addition, it is also a place that has given birth to some more unusual museums including the now world-famous Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb and the somewhat bizarre Froggyland museum of taxidermy frogs in various scenes, costumes, and poses in Split. Another rather special museum in Croatia that you should make a point to visit if you are spending time in one of our villas in Rijeka is the PEEK&POKE Computer Museum.

The idea for PEEK&POKE can trace its roots to when Svetozar Nilović met Tomislav Ribičić on a website for collectors of old computers in the early 2000s, and found that they were the only two members from Rijeka at the time. Then Dario Džimbeg, who was also from the region, joined the site and the group put together an exhibition of old computers that they called, "Retrobit," in CTK Rijeka in Školjić in 2003. Goran Paulin from DIR (ITTAR - IT Talents Association of Rijeka) commented that it would be nice to have something similar as a permanent exhibition in a museum and then it was announced that just such a museum might be opening in Zagreb. Determined that everything shouldn't be in Zagreb, they met in a pub in 2007 and came up with the idea of renting a museum space in Rijeka and putting computers from throughout the years on display. With the help of Kreativni odjel (Creative Department), a small multimedia agency where computer enthusiasts Davor Pasarić (who would become a co-founder) and Paulin worked, the museum was opened, though no one believed it could be sustained in the long-term. The goal was to stay open for a year and, yet, the museum remains open to this very day.

Now an award-winning museum, PEEK&POKE not only displays computers but all sorts of technological devices that deal with data processing, data transmission, and data storage. There are more than 1000 items on display ranging from mechanical calculators to digital cameras to game consoles to even a real 1996 supercomputer. In addition to the permanent collection, PEEK&POKE also hosts thematic temporary exhibitions and all sorts of events throughout the year. An important space of learning, particularly for kids, this special museum is a fun and fascinating place to learn more about the history of computing! An interactive space in which everything can be touched (with respect and care) as well as seen (ergo, the name), it is a hands-on and engaging museum experience and a must for tech enthusiasts who have found a vacation rental in Rijeka and are exploring all that the city and this part of Croatia has to offer – this is certainly a highlight!

PEEK&POKE
Ivana Grohovca 2
51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Opening hours:
Summer months (01/05 – 15/10):
Mon-Fri, 10am to 6pm
Sat, 11am to 4pm
Sun/holidays: closed (though visits can possibly be arranged on these days if you get in touch in advance!)
Winter months (15/10 – 01/05)
Only open on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm (though, again, other times can be arranged by getting in touch)

Tickets:
Standard ticket, 30HRK (approximately €4)