Croatia's premier seaport and its third largest city after Zagreb and Split. To visit Rijeka, head towards the Adriatic Sea and Kvarner Bay, where this beautiful city with its population of a little over 100,000 residents is located. Rijeka’s significance lies not only in its beauty, but also in its cultural and historical importance in Croatia. It has been designated the European Capital of Culture 2020 and it was once an important strategic seaport. If you want to know more about this fascinating city, here are some of the places you should visit.
Astronomical Center Rijeka
The Astronomical Center Rijeka is a unique observatory and planetarium, not only for Croatia but also for the entire region. This center has a rich history as the military used it during War World II and it represents the oldest archeological site in the region.
Astronomical Center Rijeka is located on Holly Cross Hill and is protected as a cultural landmark not only because of its historical significance, but also because of its beauty. It is the one place in Rijeka, and in the entire region, where the sky ceases to be the limit.
Captain Petar Kruzic Stairway
An artistic statement and magnificent tribute to Petar Kruzic, who was a respected warlord at the time, this stairway monument was built almost 500 hundred years ago. Captain Petar Kruzic was honored by the construction of this stairway, which starts at the very beginning of the grand stairs with an arch that depicts Madonna and the Child.
When the Captain Petar Kruzic Stairway was originally built in 1531, there were less stairs, but steps have been added over the centuries, creating the Petar Kruzic Stairway as we know it today. The monument now has 500 steps, beckoning you to walk on them and honor art and architecture.
City Tower
Once a part of the robust construction of the old city, the City Tower is now a well-known and familiar symbol of Rijeka. It also represents an example of the ideal access point. The tower was originally built in the Middle Ages, but it was modified during the Baroque period, as you can see from the ornaments characteristic for this period’s architecture and art.
Up until World War I, there was a statue of a two-headed eagle set on the top of the City Tower, but Austrian soldiers removed it to make a statement. The City Tower still stands as a testament to the many changes throughout the ages.
Korzo
If you are looking for a place in Rijeka that perfectly describes this amazing city, consider Korzo. Korzo is equally adored by the residents of Rijeka as well as by visitors. It is a promenade where you can take a walk and have fun. Sit in one of the beautiful rooms in the authentic bars and have a cup of coffee or tea, or just sit on a bench, relax, and observe Korzo pulsing throughout the morning, afternoon, or night – it’s alive and busy during the entire day, accurately depicting the picturesque appearance of Rijeka. Take a walk across Korzo to better understand this city.
Natural History Museum
If you want to get to know the natural history of Rijeka, then the Natural History Museum is the place to visit. This museum collects, preserves, and exhibits natural history specimens collected in Istria, Gorski Kotar, and Kvarner Bay.
If you want to pay a visit to the Natural History Museum, you can request and schedule a visit where you are guided by one of the five experts, one of whom is a prominent geologist with four biologists on the team. There are over 90,000 different specimens you can learn about, including rare and endangered species.
Old Town
Once you pass the City Tower and walk through the old medieval gate and across the old medieval wall that once represented the limits of the town, you enter the Old Town of Rijeka. The Old Town is now one of the loveliest and most interesting places in Rijeka that all tourists are bound to visit.
The Old Town contains the central marketplace, so there are lots of picturesque and vintage stores you can visit and browse through. Although the old houses with markets that once stood on the shore barely exist, there are similar modern versions you can visit.
Peek & Poke Computer Museum
Unlike many places in Rijeka that date back more than a few centuries, Peek & Poke Computer Museum is a little wonder of modern times. Peek and Poke is a museum for computers and old devices as well as a club you can visit.
Anyone can donate their old equipment and contribute to making the exhibition richer by another device. Besides wandering around the Peek & Poke Computer Museum, you can also buy souvenirs to remind you of this unique place set in the middle of Rijeka. If you are particularly computer savvy, Peek and Poke will be your paradise!
Rijeka City Museum
At the Governor’s Palace Park stands Rijeka’s very own city museum – yes, there are national, maritime, and natural history museums, but a town’s history can best be discovered by visiting its city museum.
The Rijeka City Museum is involved in restoring, collecting, and exhibiting different material found in Rijeka and aims to show what Rijeka has gone through over the years and how it has changed. Among the exhibition pieces at the Rijeka City Museum, you can see different instruments, art from local artists who used to live and create in Rijeka, as well as old documents that bear witness to the history of this town.
