As the largest city in Croatia and the capital, Zagreb is a must-visit city of the former Yugoslavia. Many people say that it is a big town disguised as a small city. It has all the charm of a hometown with cafes that roll into other cafes and shops. There is more to this beautiful city than cafes, with over 25 museums scattered across the city. These museums can't be missed, and I've highlighted the top four that must be added to your list of destinations in Croatia.
Archeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum was founded in 1846 with more than 450,000 artifacts from all over the world. One of the most famous artifacts that can be found in the museum is the Zagreb Mummy. The mummy was brought to Zagreb from Egypt by the explorer Michael Barić in 1848. It wasn't until a half-century later that an Egyptologist noticed that the mummy's cloth wrapping contained anonymous letters. It was later determined to be Etruscan and dated back to the third century BCE. This made the cloth one of the oldest Etruscan text in existence. The former mummy covering is now displayed in a separate case from the Zagreb Mummy.
Nikola Tesla Technical Museum
Nikola Tesla was born in the small town of Smiljan, Croatia. Nikola Tesla was one of the most prolific inventors of the modern era. Some of his best-known inventions were the development of alternating current AC, which we still use every day in our homes. He also set the stage for modern wireless technology. He had over 200 patents to his name. The Nikola Tesla Technical Museum highlights the great mind of famous engineers and futurists. The collection shows an evolution of science and technology over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. There are over 10,000 items related to transportation, energy, agriculture, astronautics, and geology. One of the most incredible features of the museum includes a collection of beehives, a 1,000-foot replica of a coal mine beneath the museum, a planetarium, and a reconstruction of Tesla's laboratory. If you are lucky enough to time your visit, you can even see a demonstration of his inventions.
Museum of Broken Relationships
One of the more unique museums in Zagreb was founded in 2010 by exes. They were looking for a place to store their shared items without putting them into storage. The Museum of Broken Relationships has taken the world by storm. It didn't start as a brick-and-mortar museum but as a traveling exhibition. Now that it has a permeant home, one of the most incredible parts of the exhibit is the part you can contribute to. It invites anyone who has experienced heartbreak to share memories and items associated with the failed relationship. The exhibits you will find range from an espresso machine to as off the wall as an axe stuck in a wall. These objects document love and loss and takes visitors on a roller coaster of emotions. As you finish the museum tour, you can't miss the Brokenships Café featuring local food and beverages to eat and/or drink as you process your feelings and experiences at the museum.
Klovićevi Dvori Gallery
The Klovicevi Dvori Gallery is Croatia's largest art gallery and is a museum that cannot be missed. This groundbreaking gallery has collected several Croatian "firsts" since its opening. The museum redefined the country's arts scene by being the first to promote strip cartoons. Every year, the museum hosts around 30 global exhibitions that range from ancient Croatia to the present. These exhibits draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Some of the most noteworthy exhibits have included "Bodies Revealed" and "The Quiet Rebellion – The Greatest Masters of German Expressionism."
These are a sampling of the numerous museums in Zagreb. It is a cannot miss city in Europe, that is often overlooked when planning a trip. Don't hesitate to schedule an online consultation to learn more about the stunning city and all that it has to offer.