A busy historic old city on the Zadar peninsula with various places to moor up and visit. The city offers a medley of roman and slavic history and it's prominent location has encouraged growth over the years. The city offers lots to explore and visit.
"Zadar (US: ZAH-dar, Croatian: [zâdar] (listen); see also other names) is the oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar serves as the seat of Zadar County and of the wider northern Dalmatian region. The city proper covers 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) with a population of 75,082 in 2011, making it the second-largest city of the region of Dalmatia and the fifth-largest city in the country.
The area of present-day Zadar traces its earliest evidence of human life from the late Stone Age, while numerous settlements date as early as the Neolithic. Before the Illyrians, an ancient Mediterranean people of an Indo-European culture inhabited the area. Zadar traces its origin to its 9th-century BC founding as a settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians known as Iader.In 59 BC it was renamed Iadera when it became a Roman municipium. In 48 BC it became a Roman colonia. During Roman rule Zadar acquired the characteristics of a traditional Ancient Roman city with a regular road network, a public square (forum), and an elevated capitolium with a temple.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and the destruction of Salona by the Avars and Croats in 614, Zadar became the capital of the Byzantine theme of Dalmatia. In the beginning of the 9th century, Zadar came briefly under Frankish rule, but the Pax Nicephori returned it to the Byzantines in 812. The first Croatian rulers gained brief control over the city in 10th century. In 998 Zadar swore allegiance to Doge Pietro Orseolo II and became a vassal of the Republic of Venice. In 1186 it placed itself under the protection of Béla III, King of Hungary and Croatia.
In 1202 the Venetians, with the help of Crusaders, reconquered and sacked Zadar. Hungary regained control over the city in 1358, when it was given to king Louis I of Hungary. In 1409 king Ladislaus I sold Zadar to the Venetians. When the Ottoman Empire conquered the Zadar hinterland at the beginning of the 16th century, the town became an important stronghold, ensuring Venetian trade in the Adriatic, the administrative center of the Venetian territories in Dalmatia and a cultural center. This fostered an environment in which arts and literature could flourish, and between the 15th and 17th centuries Zadar came under the influence of the Renaissance, giving rise to many important Italian Renaissance figures like Giorgio Ventura and Giovanni Francesco Fortunio, who wrote the first Italian grammar book, and many Croatian writers, such as Petar Zoranić, Brne Krnarutić, Juraj Baraković and Šime Budinić, who wrote in the Croatian language.
After the fall of Venice in 1797, Zadar came under the Austrian rule until 1918, except for the period of short-term French rule (1805–1813), still remaining the capital of Dalmatia. During French rule the first newspaper in the Croatian language, Il Regio Dalmata – Kraglski Dalmatin, was published in Zadar (1806–1810). During the 19th century Zadar functioned as a center of the Croatian movement for cultural and national revival in a context of increasing polarization and politicization of ethnic identities between Croats and Dalmatian Italians.
With the 1920 Treaty of Rapallo Zadar was given to the Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, it was bombed by the Allies and witnessed the evacuation of ethnic Italians. Partisans captured the city on 1 November 1944; in 1947 it officially became part of SR Croatia, a federal constituent of the SFR Yugoslavia, whose armed forces defended it in October 1991 from the Serb forces who aimed to capture it.
Today, Zadar is a historical center of Dalmatia, Zadar County's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, educational, and transportation centre. Zadar is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zadar. Because of its rich heritage, Zadar is today one of the most popular Croatian tourist destinations, named "entertainment center of the Adriatic" by The Times and "Croatia's new capital of cool" by The Guardian. In 2016 the Belgian portal Europe's Best Destinations.com named Zadar the "Best European Destination" after a three-week period of online voting involving more than 288,000 votes.UNESCO's World Heritage Site list included the fortified city of Zadar as part of Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar in 2017." Wikipedia
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Nearby facilities
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![]() 5 . Albatros Yachting2.5Albatros Yachting was founded in 2007. and, from its beginnings, managed with the help of our small, but proffesional, experienced, and friendly team of permanent employees who will give their best... |
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![]() 7 . Meridijan Grupa2.5Meridijan is a family owned charter company founded in 1993. Over the years we have gained experience in both bareboat and crewed charter and developed in a modern organized company that offers hig... |
![]() 8 . Asta Yachting2.5We are yacht charter company with over 20 years of professional experience and service in yacht charter business with our own fleet of 60 sailing and motor boats different types and sizes, based in... |
![]() 9 . Adriatic Charter2.5Over the past 15 years Adriatic Charter strived to be a highly professional and successful company which offers high standards, quality and safety in yacht charter. In order to achieve it we have b... |
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Nearby Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages
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![]() 1 . Zadar Marina2.5This large marina provides 300 berths, restaurants, parking and is close to the old town. |
![]() 2 . Zadar Garden Port Marina2.5The inner port is home to many small motor boats , whereas the marina further out is home to yachts and larger power boats. |
![]() 3 . Zadar Fosa Harbour2.5The small harbour is full of local boats and set against the park on one side and the old town on the other.Yachts may find a mooring near the entrance of the Fosa. |
![]() 4 . Zadar Quay2.5The quay follows the coastline, but has protrusion which may also be used for shore-side mooring. |
![]() 5 . Vitrenjak Yacht Club Marina2.5This large busy private marina is next to Marina Borik and is unlikely to have berths for visiting yachts. |
![]() 6 . Zadar Saint Klement Harbour2.5This harbour is found against an industrial backdrop and the commercial port of Zadar. |
![]() 7 . Marina Borik Marina2.5D-Marin Borik is situated on the west coast of the 3,000 year old city of Zadar, in the center of the beautiful Croatian coast. With the capacity of 177 berths and all services marina users might n... |
![]() 8 . Poljana Harbour2.5This pretty harbour is found behind two sturdy breakwaters. The inside of the breakwaters may have shoreside mooring, the inner harbour is too shallow. |
![]() 9 . Osljak Harbour2.5This tiny harbour overlooking Ugljan island is on the western side of Osljak islet may offer some shore side mooring on the tip of the breakwater. |
![]() 10 . Preko Jaz Harbour2.5The tiny harbour on the southern shore of Jaz beach bay may offer some mooring for yachts on the inner side of the breakwater. |
![]() 11 . Marina Preko Marina2.5Marina Preko provides easy access to other anchorages in the Zadar aquatic region and the opportunity to explore Kornati National Park with its hundreds of islets. Sailors describe Preko as the 'pe... |
![]() 12 . Olive Island Marina2.5This marina has 203 berths, it offers beautiful gardens a beach, large sunbathing terraces, a pool and restaurants. |
![]() 13 . Bibinje Harbour2.5Two overlapping breakwaters create a harbour for many local boats. The ends of the breakwaters may provide sufficient depth for visiting yachts. |
![]() 14 . Kali Breakwater2.5The tiny harbour is for local boats however the tip of the breakwater may offer some limited shoreside mooring. |
![]() 15 . Kali Harbour2.5A small harbour north of Kukljica on the western shore of Ugljan island. The inner jetty may offer some options for visiting yachts. |
![]() 16 . Lukoran Harbour2.5A north facing cove on Ugljan island with a small breakwater providing some options for mooring. |
![]() 17 . Lamjana Mala Cove2.5This sheltered anchorage is at the end of a long cove a short distance overload to Kali. |
![]() 18 . Marina Dalmacija Marina2.5D-Marin Dalmacija, the largest marina in Croatia, is located in a naturally protected bay, 7 km south of the ancient port town of Zadar. The marina is easily and safely accessible by modern motorwa... |
![]() 19 . Svitla Cove2.5A small cove on the south western side of Ugljan island offers some shelter for anchoring. |
![]() 20 . Mihovil Fortress Cove Marina2.5This cove is at the foot of the hills below an old fortress and may provide some limited anchoring. |
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Nearby Towns
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2 . Sutomiscica
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4 . Bibinje
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6 . Lukoran
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7 . Petrcane
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8 . Kukljica
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10 . Sukosan
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12 . Zdrelac
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16 . Veli Iz
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18 . Nin
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19 . Ljubac
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20 . Rivanj
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