Mo Bros of Zagreb

To raise awareness, all you have to do is grow your best moustache. Some famous men in the city's history were ahead of their time. When you walk around Zagreb, you will likely run into some historical Mo Bros. In your opinion, which one of them wears their moustache best?

The cover photo shows the statue of Ban (governor) Jelačić, which decorates the main city square. The locals will recognise his portraits from far away for his thick, elegantly combed moustache. Such elegance might give you the wrong idea that he was some gentle soul who spent a carefree life. Not at all. He might have taken care of his looks, but at the same time, the man was a courageous general of war. He was the one who inaugurated the Croatian flag with three stripes - red, white, and blue. Do you imagine a man with a moustache as the life of the party? What a coincidence! They say Jelačić was indeed a great entertainer.

Antun Gustav Matoš – photo by Boška i Krešo / Zagreb Tourist Board

The most touched moustache in the town is that of Antun Gustav Matoš. It doesn't bring good luck or anything like that, but children often feel the urge to touch it. I'm talking about the silver statue of a poet sitting on a bench in the Upper Town, enjoying the city's view. His poetry is deep, emotional, and a bit dark. His photos never show him smiling. The only thing that smiles a bit on his face is the pointy moustache.

What kind of a father would it be without a moustache? Certainly not the father of Croatian literature. Photo by M. Vrdoljak / Zagreb Tourist Board  

It's easy to spot the moustache on that poet, but I bet that a lot of locals haven't noticed Marko Marulić had a moustache, too. Just look at that statue more closely, and you'll see it. Marulić is a Renaissance poet who wrote Judita (Judith), a significant piece of Croatian literature. He wrote it in 1501. He published it 20 years later. Don't you love the fact that even the father of Croatian literature kept his manuscript in the drawer for 20 years? There's hope for all of the aspiring writers.

We can only imagine how the first Croatian king could look like. So why not add some moustache to those thoughts? Photo by M. Vrdoljak / Zagreb Tourist Board

If we move even further back across time, precisely 1100 years ago, we would find ourselves in the medieval Croatian kingdom. King Tomislav welcomes the visitors just next to the central train station. He's high up, so it's hard to spot the details. But the close-up shows his moustache!

Don’t attempt to fight a dragon, if you don’t have a nice moustache. Photo by M. Vrdoljak / Zagreb Tourist Board

A saint with a moustache? Why not, especially St George in Zagreb. The elaborated statue had a hard time settling. Initially, it stood at the entrance to the park Maksimir. Then it moved to the Strossmayer Square. Finally, it found its home at the Croatian National Theatre. It even has a twin in the yard of the Gliptoteque.

Did you notice there are that many Mo Bros in Zagreb? Take a better look as you stroll the city, and you'll definitely find some more. If you were planning to let it grow this November, our historical personalities offer plenty of inspiration for your perfect moustache.

Revival of a historic army wouldn’t be authentic without a proper moustache. Photo by M. Vrdoljak.

Header image credit: M. Vrdoljak

Author: Iva Silla