ZADAR: CROATIA'S UNSUNG DALMATIAN GEM

A beguiling mix of the past and present, this coastal Croatian city remains resolutely under the radar. Explore its eclectic architecture, fine food and myriad wild corners before the rest of the world catches on

Zadar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Croatia and it is easy to understand why. Set beside the Adriatic Sea, it's surrounded by nature and blessed by the bounty that brings. You'll enjoy the freshest fish, the tastiest olive oil and wines that are at once hearty and refreshing. Architecturally, there is no other place in Croatia like it. Various civilizations have come and gone, each leaving a legacy both in stone and in culture. But at its heart Zadar remains a city looking resolutely forward, preserving its past and embracing its future. Here's why you should visit...

FOR THE CULTURE

Sought after and fought over since before the Romans, Zadar proudly wears the architectural legacy left to it by the many civilizations that have called it home. In the Episcopal complex alone you'll find the remains of the Roman Forum, the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia (dating back to a Christian basilica built in the fourth and fifth centuries) and St. Donatus, the largest pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

Elsewhere, the UNESCO-listed city walls date from the time of the Republic of Venice. Five Wells Square, near the Grimani Bastion from the Renaissance, features five lined-up wells built during the siege by the Turks in the 16th century. And Kalelarga, arguably the most famous street in Zadar, has seen everyone from ancient Romans to modern-day revellers passing through.