The Roman Forum, Zadar

During the days of Julius Caesar, areas of today's Croatia came under the rule of the growing Roman Empire. Zadar became a Roman Colonia in 48 BC. It acquired all the characteristics of a Roman city: North-south and east-west crossroads, a capitol, a temple, and a forum.

Zadar's forum, commissioned by Emperor Augustus, was a vast area closed on three sides by a two-story portico with colonnades. The Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva was in the center. Today only the pavement and steps remain, with two monumental columns. One of the columns was at some time used as a pillory.

An earthquake in the 6th century demolished the forum. Most of the remains were used for other buildings. In the reconstructed capitol a sacrificial altar was discovered. It had runnels and recesses to catch the blood of animal sacrifices. On the west side of the capitol wall is a faded fresco of Cybele, the Great Mother of antiquity.

In late antiquity, foundations for a Christian basilica with annexes were laid, and the medieval square and a Renaissance cistern were built. Since 2011, the forum has become an active public space used for concerts, public events, and film festivals.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zadar. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: The Roman Forum
Sight Location: Zadar, Croatia (See walking tours in Zadar)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Zadar Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Zadar, Croatia

Create Your Own Walk in Zadar

Creating your own self-guided walk in Zadar is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Zadar's Architecture Walking Tour

Zadar's architecture is a tapestry woven with the threads of Roman, Byzantine, and medieval influences, each contributing to a rich and vibrant heritage. Indeed, as you walk the streets of Zadar, you can't help noticing a plethora of ancient buildings reflecting the varied cultural influences imposed on the city over the centuries.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Zadar Introduction Walking Tour

Ancient Zadar presides over a spacious harbor from a rocky promontory once separated from the mainland by a deep moat. In 59 BC, it was decreed a municipality by none other than Julius Caesar. Germanic tribes, Byzantines, Slavs, Franks, and Ottomans, had all ruled the area at one time and left their marks. Venice ruled Zadar from 1409 to 1797.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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