History of Zadar
Zadar is the oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city.
In fact, Zadar traces its earliest evidence of human life from the late Stone Age, while numerous settlements have been dated from the Neolithic period.
Before the Illyrians, the area was inhabited by an ancient Mediterranean people of a pre-Indo-European culture.
Zadar traces its origin to its 9th-century BC founding as a settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians known as Iader.
Situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the north-western part of the Ravni Kotari region, Zadar’s beauty and location make it clear why its inhabitants settled there and decided never to leave.
The Romans chose it to be a municipal, and so Zadar got its Roman features that can be seen today. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the town took on a more Byzantine character.
Zadar continued for hundreds of years to be passed around between the Venetians, Croats, Hungarians, Austrians, and the Francs, each leaving their mark on the town.
Zadar was inflicted with horrendous bombing raids by the allies in world war two, leaving huge areas in need of redevelopment by post-war planners.
As such, Zadar has a complex meeting of different cultures and styles, as well as the old and new.
Zadar has more going on for it than just being a tourist centre.
Its industries now include distilling of liqueurs, canning and processing of fish, and the production of rope, cotton, and synthetic textiles, cigarettes, plastics, leather, and household appliances.
