Arheološki muzej Zadar
The second-oldest museum in Croatia holds the archaeological heritage of northern Dalmatia from prehistory to the Middle Ages, alongside the Roman Forum in Zadar.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Arheološki muzej Zadar (Archaeological Museum Zadar) was founded in 1832 as part of the combined National, or Provincial, Museum, and has operated as a separate institution since 1880. For a long time its seat was the Church of St Donatus, formerly a warehouse of a wine association, renovated to receive archaeological material. The first permanent display opened in 1893, and the museum operated in the church for 74 years.
During the Second World War the museum suffered heavy damage: a large quantity of the highest-quality material was removed from the display cases, and the administrative building burned down completely in an air raid. The surviving part of the display was reopened as early as 1945. In the post-war decades the collections were looked after by leading names of Croatian archaeology.
Since 1975 the museum has operated at two locations: the permanent displays are in the building on the edge of the Roman Forum, while the former Monastery of St Nicholas houses the library, restoration workshops and offices of the professional staff. The collections comprise more than 70,000 objects from prehistory, antiquity, and the Middle Ages and early modern period, and are enriched by continuous archaeological research in northern Dalmatia. The museum also has a department, the Muzej ninskih starina (Nin Antiquities Museum) in Nin, and looks after the Church of St Donatus.
Highlights
- Permanent display of prehistory from the Middle Palaeolithic to the end of the Iron Age
- Display of Roman antiquity with imperial statues from Nin
- Old Croatian finds and stone church furnishings
- Pre-Romanesque churches presented through models and photographs
- Collections of more than 70,000 objects
Permanent exhibitions
- Stalni postav prapovijesti – The display presents the oldest past of northern Dalmatia across around 40,000 years, from the Middle Palaeolithic to the end of the Iron Age. Most of the exhibits are from the Neolithic and the Iron Age.
- Stalni postav antike – Thematic sections present the Roman army, architecture, economy, everyday life, art and religion of ancient Zadar (Iader). The display ends with a group of imperial statues from Nin.
- Stalni postav srednjega vijeka – Old Croatian objects and stone church furnishings from the settlement of the Croats in the 7th century to the beginning of the 12th century, along with models and photographs of early medieval churches.
- Founded
- 1832
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5pensioners from the Republic of Croatia |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 10 · Children up to 10 years do not pay admission. |
| Seniors | €5Pensioners from the Republic of Croatia. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freePeople with disabilities, invalids of the Homeland War and blind and partially sighted people do not pay admission. |
| Students & apprentices | €3Pupils, students and pensioners in a group without a guided tour; €4 with a guided tour. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personOther groups €4, and €5 with a guided tour in Croatian. A group consists of ten or more people. |
| Archaeological Museum + Church of St Donatus (individual) | €10 |
| Archaeological Museum + Church of St Donatus (group) | €6Price per person. |
| Guided tour in a foreign language | €50 |
Free admission: Free admission on Museum Night, International Museum Day, the Day of the Archaeological Museum Zadar, the Day of the City of Zadar and the Day of the Defence of the City of Zadar.
Free admission is also granted to kindergartens, children’s homes, members of ICOM, and students and professors of archaeology, history, art history and classical philology.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 10 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum organises educational workshops and runs the museum club “Pinel i Kukica” for children under 15 years.
Getting there & parking
The museum is on the edge of the Roman Forum in the historic centre of Zadar.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group visits with a guided tour must be announced in advance (tel. +385 23 250 613, mbrkic@amzd.hr). Payment is by voucher or in cash at the entrance. |
