The lovely coastal city of Zadar is a well-preserved beauty where visitors are transported back in time as they wander the historic core. And, while the wonderful coastline wows guests and has lots to offer, the cultural heritage of this charming city is also deeply fascinating and there are a range of amazing museums, works of art, and cultural attractions to discover. So, if you find a villa in Zadar, you will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds – adventures outdoors and wonderful artistic and historic pursuits.
For those who are interested in getting up close and personal with the history and production of art and crafts in the city, in particular, then a visit to the Museum of Ancient Glass is a must.
While almost all of the traditional glass-blowers in Croatia are no longer in business and the trade is not being passed down to new generations, this institute, the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar remains home to one active glass-blower to this day.
Of course, the museum also houses a collection of archaeological artefacts, specialising in ancient glass. There are over 5000 glass objects dating from antiquity (the period from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD), with around 1500 pieces on display at any one time across eight different thematic areas.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, there is the glass-blowing workshop where replicas of these ancient glass pieces are made using the free blowing technique, glass jewellery is made with a torch, souvenirs are made using the fusing technique, and objects of boroslicate glass are made with a torch on the second floor by glass-blower Marko Štefanac. The braver among groups visiting the museum and the workshop can even try it out for themselves, though your results may not look quite like his!
A fascinating museum and a truly unique experience, this wonderful cultural activity is a prime example of the sort of special wonders and attractions offered by a vacation in Croatia and a stay in one of our holiday rentals in Zadar, in particular.