Natural History Museum and the Zoological Garden, Split

Natural History Museum and the Zoological Garden, Split

The Marjan Zoo, located in Split, Croatia, was once a combined institution comprising the Natural History Museum and the Zoological Garden. However, in 2014, due to mounting protests by ecological organizations, the zoo was closed, and the facility has since been operating solely as a museum.

In June 2015, following the closure of the museum and zoo in 2014, an artistic collective initiated by Hrvoje Cokarich, an artist from Split, took it upon themselves to assist the remaining animals. Since 2016, these artists have continuously devised innovative solutions to prevent the extinction of these creatures. Children have the opportunity to delight in the presence of various domestic animals, including donkeys, rabbits, turtles, chickens, turkeys, horses, cows, sheep, and goats. The zoo delivers an enriching and hands-on experience, promoting a deeper comprehension of wildlife preservation and biodiversity. Through opportunities to observe, learn about, and actively participate in feeding sessions, the zoo presents an unforgettable engagement with the animal kingdom.

The Natural History Museum's extensive collections have continued to flourish, encompassing various fields of natural history, including mineralogy, geology, paleontology, botany, and zoology. This museum houses hundreds of thousands of exhibits.

Visitors to the Natural History Museum can explore the numerous facets of the natural world through its collections. One of the highlights is a remarkable collection of shells, totaling nearly 7,000 specimens, which is sure to captivate those with an interest in marine biology.

The museum's second permanent exhibition is dedicated to the forest fauna of the Croatian Adriatic coast. This exhibit is designed in the form of a series of dioramas, featuring taxidermied animals, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds from the museum's collection. This immersive display provides a comprehensive view of the wildlife found along the Adriatic coast of Croatia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Split. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Natural History Museum and the Zoological Garden on Map

Sight Name: Natural History Museum and the Zoological Garden
Sight Location: Split, Croatia (See walking tours in Split)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Split, Croatia

Create Your Own Walk in Split

Create Your Own Walk in Split

Creating your own self-guided walk in Split is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Split Introduction Walking Tour

Split Introduction Walking Tour

Split is the largest city in Dalmatia. It is a regional transport center, a tourist magnet, and the ancient dacha of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Like most other cities of the Mediterranean, it started out as a Greek colony. The original name was Aspalatos.

Supposedly, the city owes its name to the word for "spiny broom." Which spiny broom is not clear, but history has many such...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Marjan Hill Walking Tour

Marjan Hill Walking Tour

Marjan Hill is a picturesque natural wonder – a unique landform – located on the Split peninsula in Croatia. The majestic hill (or the low mountain, if you like) is surrounded by the sea and the city, and represents the green oasis ideal for walks, excursions, and rock climbing. Visitors to the area are greeted with a plethora of sights catering to various interests and equally enjoyed by...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Diocletian Palace Tour

Diocletian Palace Tour

One of the best preserved monuments of the Roman architecture in the world, Diocletian's Palace was built for the Emperor Diocletian, at the turn of the 4th century AD, as his retirement home. Massive and resembling a fortress rather, it represents a combination of a luxury villa and a military garrison, and is divided into four parts by two main streets. Integral of the historic core of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles