Pomorski i povijesni muzej Hrvatskog primorja

About the museum

The Pomorski i povijesni muzej Hrvatskog primorja Rijeka was created in 1961 by merging the Pomorski muzej (Maritime Museum) and the Narodni muzej (National Museum). Its roots go back to the city museum in Rijeka, which from 1914 was housed in a school attic and later in Villa Margherita. In 1948 it moved to the eastern part of the former Governor’s Palace. A year later it merged with the Muzej Hrvatskog primorja, founded in 1933 as the Gradski muzej Sušak, and in 1953 it was renamed the Narodni muzej.

The Pomorski odjel became independent in 1960 as the Pomorski muzej, and in 1961 the two institutions were merged under the present name. The seat is the Governor’s Palace, the former residence of Rijeka’s governors. The museum has maritime, cultural-historical, ethnographic and archaeological departments.

The permanent exhibition in the palace comprised the sections “Tragovi vremena”, “Jedra Kvarnera” (Sails of the Kvarner), “Staro oružje”, “Kroz prozor Guvernerove palače”, “U obrani domovine” and the Lapidarij in the garden, with part of it also in the workshop Čudotvornica. The palace has been closed for an energy renovation that will last several years. The museum also manages other locations: the memorial centre “Lipa pamti”, the Muzejska zbirka Kastavštine in Kastav, the Etnografska zbirka otoka Krka in Dobrinj, the Mali muzej ribarstva i brodogradnje in Kraljevica, and the archaeological collection Cickini.

Highlights

• Guvernerova palača (Governor’s Palace), the former residence of Rijeka’s governors
• Display “Jedra Kvarnera” (Sails of the Kvarner) on maritime history
• Old weapons and the Lapidarij in the garden
• Audio guide “Tia putuje kroz 120 godina Guvernerove palače” (Tia’s journey through the Governor’s Palace)
• Children’s workshop Čudotvornica

Permanent exhibitions

• Jedra Kvarnera – Overview of the development of shipping and shipbuilding on the northern Adriatic, with emphasis on the golden age of Kvarner sailing ships; at its centre is a life jacket from the steamship Titanic.
• Tragovi vremena – Thematic and chronological display of archaeological finds and objects from prehistory to the early modern period in the Rijeka area.
• Kroz prozor Guvernerove palače – Political history of Rijeka from the founding of the Rijeka Gubernium at the end of the 18th century to the mid-20th century, and the social life of the citizens of Rijeka in the 19th century, presented in the representative salons on the first floor.

Founded

1961

Admission & discounts

The prices apply to the Governor’s Palace before its closure. Free admission is also granted to members of professional associations and to journalists.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access to the palace is via a single staircase; with prior arrangement, entry is provided from the north side. Because of the narrow staircase and the lack of a lift, people with mobility difficulties can only see the displays on the ground floor and first floor. The toilet on the first floor is not accessible. The displays are not adapted for blind and partially sighted people, except for the Claustra information point.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Workshops for children take place in Čudotvornica, and the audio guide “Tia” is intended primarily for children. The museum offers a family ticket and birthday celebrations in Čudotvornica.

Getting there & parking

The museum can be reached on foot from Korzo via the Stuba Crvenoga križa and Supilova ulica.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A sales counter with publications and souvenirs is located next to the ticket desk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Rooms are rented out for cultural, scientific and educational programmes, seminars, assemblies, congresses and weddings (organised by the Registry Office of PGŽ, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County); requests must be submitted at least 15 days in advance.

Plan your visit