Land Gate

Zadar, Croatia

Once the largest city-fortress in the entire Republic of Venice, Zadar’s walls allowed it to retain more of its independence than most of its neighbouring cities, and meant that it was never captured by the Turks.

The most impressive gate of the walls was Land Gate - then the main entrance into the city - in the little Foša harbour, built by a Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli in 1543. It is considered one of the finest monuments of the Renaissance in Dalmatia, and has the form of a triumphal arch with a central passage for wheeled traffic, and two smaller side arches for pedestrians. It is decorated with motifs such as St. Chrysogonus (Zadar’s main patron saint) on his horse, and the Shield of St. Mark (the coat of arms of the Republic of Venice). Previously, the area had been highly defensive, with a surrounding moat.

References:

Zadar Travel

Castles and fortifications in Croatia

Address

Trg pet bunara 1, Zadar, Croatia

See all sites in Zadar

Details

Founded: 1543
Category: Castles and fortifications in Croatia

More Information

www.zadar.travel

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Robert Chomicz (2 years ago)
An impressive 16th century, late renaissance gateway built by the Venetians as a main entrance to the walled city. A lot of symbology involved in the carvings. The Lion of St. Mark - the symbol of Venice - is much larger and located above the images of patron saints of Zadar, who are seen in the niches below. This was supposed to show the people of Zadar who was in charge in the city. The open book that the lion is holding means that Venice was at peace when the gate was completed.

Northern Wanderers (3 years ago)
When visiting city you have to enter through this gate and also you can go by the sea following city walls and then go around peninsula as we did one fine sunrise which can be spectacular here almost like sunsets. Visiting is a must when in Zadar! Make sure it’s on your list!

Ish Dee (3 years ago)
This was a super rainy day in Zadar. I still walked around the Historic City

prOozax (3 years ago)
The music sounds amazing between this walls terrace was so good ?

Alexandra Dumitru (3 years ago)
A lot of details and this gate. You should definitely check it out

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.