Zadar Art Galleries

(Zadar, Northern Dalmatia, Croatia)

Several official galleries are located in Zadar, coming with extensive permanent collections of art, accompanied by regular changing exhibitions often featuring local Croatian artists. The aptly named Art Gallery is one of the best and is home to an especially diverse mixture of paintings and sculptures.

For a more religious flavour, Zadar's Museum of Church Art may well appeal, with its centuries-old masterpieces depicting scenes from the Bible. Art buffs will likely be interested to view the museum's small and very valuable collection of paintings by renowned Italian artist Vittore Carpaccio (1465 to 1525). There is also an important painting by 14th-century medieval artist Paolo Veneziano, regarded as the most important artist from Venice during this period.

Art Gallery (Umjetnicka Galerij)

Address: Smiljanica, Zadar, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 023 211 174
The Art Gallery is worth doing after the National Museum, as you get free admission when you purchase entry to the latter. Whilst it is fair to say that this attraction may not be the most altogether art museum, it does cover many different periods and has works of old and new. There are also rotating exhibitions, which change on a regular basis and always contain original pieces created by both established and up-and-coming Croatian painters.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 12:00, 17:00 to 20:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, free with National Museum ticket

Museum of Church Art (Muzej Crkvene Umjetnosti)

Address: Trg Opatice Cike 1, Zadar, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 023 211 545
The Museum of Church Art is another one of Zadar's museums that is located within a traditional Benedictine monastery. To be exact, it sits opposite St. Donat's Church in the Old Town district and boasts a fantastic collection of religious paintings. Particular highlights include the ancient painting of the Madonna in the Goldsmiths' Hall - created way back in the 14th century, as well as a marble sculpture of the same subject, various other old sculptures and some embroidery, up on the second floor.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 12:30, 17:00 to 20:30, Sunday - 10:00 to 12:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for students