People have been visiting religious sites for centuries. Generally speaking, religious tourism is one of the first forms of tourism. Naturally, every country, region, and even the city has unique places that are recognized as important religious centers. By going on this kind of journey, people meet their deep personal and spiritual needs. They seek to find a solution for various problems in their lives and reconnect with themselves in these holly places where they often feel less alone. As Croatian tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors, many tourists visiting our city seek for this kind of activity as well. As you may already know, Croatia is a predominantly Catholic country. In this text, I’ll take you on a tour of the main Catholic sites and locations in Zagreb, so keep on reading if you’re interested to know more about the religious side of our capital.

Kaptol Hill

When Zagrebians mention Kaptol, they often refer to its symbolic meaning, the seat of the Croatian Catholic church.  This term is most commonly used in the media, but it originally stands for one of the two hills where Zagreb formed as a city. Kaptol hill has been known for centuries as a home to the tallest church in Croatia, the Zagreb Cathedral, and other important religious objects which hold significant historical importance for Croatian people.

Image credit: Zagreb Cathedral, M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

St Francis Church is another significant Zagrebian church, also placed on the Kaptol hill. It is known for its famous stained-glass windows created by Croatian artist Ivo Dulčić. The windows were made in 1960, and they depict scenes from St Francis’ song ''Canticle of the Creatures.'' If you’re like me and love to explore the cities on foot, Kaptol hill is a great place to “get lost.”

Alongside beautiful old churches and sites, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes where you can sit and enjoy the stunning views. It is also close to the most famous open market, Dolac, where you can try out local specialties. Also, if you want to purchase a special religious book, a prayer book, a religious gift, or a souvenir from Zagreb, I recommend going to the street which connects the Kaptol hill and the main Zagreb Ban Jelačić Square. There you’ll find many stores specialized in selling religious books and items.  

Image credit: St. Francis church, M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

 The Zagreb Cathedral

As I already mentioned, the Zagreb Cathedral is the tallest church in Zagreb. But not only that, the Cathedral is the tallest building in Croatia. Its twin towers are one of the prominent landmarks of our capital. The Cathedral was built from the 13th to the 16th centuries, and it was damaged many times by disasters like earthquakes and fires. As a result of constant improvements and restoration of the Cathedral exterior, many younger Zagrebians have never seen both of its towers without the scaffolding.

Image credit: Zagreb Cathedral, M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

Nevertheless, its outstanding beauty shines despite all of the construction work on its exterior. The Cathedral is also known as the resting place of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, one of the most important national and religious figures in Croatian history. If you want to attend a Sunday mass while in Zagreb, I highly recommend going to the Cathedral. If you have a tight schedule, you can just enjoy its beautiful exterior and the famous fountain in front of it featuring three golden angels guarding the Cathedral. It is definitely a Zagreb landmark which you shouldn’t miss out. During the Advent period, there is even a live nativity scene, which I'd definitely recommend seeing if you find yourself here during the Advent. 

 St Mark's Church

Another beautiful landmark of Zagreb is St Mark's Church. It is best known for its unique roof design featuring the famous Croatian chessboard, which you might have seen on our national team sports jerseys or our flag. The St Mark's church is located in the Upper Town right next to the Croatian parliament. It is a place that attracts many tourists all year round as its vibrant colors make for a great background on pictures. For me personally, it is one of the most beautiful places in the cities which I'm very fond of.

Image credit: St Marks church, J. Duval, TZGZ

The Stone Gate

When heading to the St Mark's Church, don’t miss out on lighting a candle in the famous passage Kamenita vrata or translated in English: The Stone Gate. It is a site of great religious significance for Zagrebians as many of them come to it when facing troubles in their personal life. The Stone Gate is also the only of the original four city entrances that survived throughout the centuries.

It had become a special city shrine after 1731 when a great fire burnt down everything but the painting of the Virgin Mary. The painting is still kept in a small chapel in the passage. There, you can buy and light a candle and pray in a peaceful atmosphere of this special place. The dimmed light of candles, stone walls, and wooden benches all create a unique and beautiful atmosphere that connects not only Catholics praying there but also people of all faiths and different beliefs. Because of its significance, the Mother of God of Kamenita Vrata (the Stone Gate) is considered to be the patron saint of the city of Zagreb.

Image credit: The Stone gate, M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

The church of St Catherine

St Catherine's church is considered to be the most beautiful baroque church in Zagreb. Located in the Upper Town as well, it is placed right above the beautiful Plateau Gradec, where you can enjoy the stunning views over Zagreb Cathedral. St Catherine Curch was built by the Jesuits between 1620 and 1632 but was thoroughly reconstructed after the devastating earthquake in 1880 which left damage to many buildings in Zagreb. The reconstruction of the church was led by famous architect Hermann Bolle who has designed many of the most iconic Zagreb buildings. 

The Museum of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac

The museum dedicated to the Cardinal Stepinac brings us back to the Kaptol. As already mentioned, Alojzije Stepinac is a significant religious and historical figure important not only to the Catholic church in Croatia but also an important figure in Croatian history during the years of the Second World War. Stepinac was beatified by Pope John Paul II , and the museum is located near Zagreb Cathedral. It holds a collection that depicts the life of Cardinal showcasing his personal artifacts, documentation, and portraits.

Image credit: Zagreb Cathedral, M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

International Catholic Community of Zagreb

If you want to attend a Sunday mass in English or French while in Zagreb, you can visit the Chapel of the Catholic University in the city center at Ilica 242. There is a Holy Mass in English every Sunday at 10:30 AM, and once a month, you can attend Holy Mass in the French language. For more information, visit the ICC website and find out more.

In the blogpost next month, I’ll write more about the Marian shrine Marija Bistrica which is located near Zagreb, so if you’re interested in this topic, keep an eye on our blog and Facebook page.

Header image credit: M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

Author: Darija Ilić