Ethnographic Museum, Zagreb

The Ethnographic Museum, situated at Ivan Mažuranić Square in Zagreb, was established in 1919 by Salamon Berger. It's housed in an Art Nouveau structure that was originally the Trades Hall, built in 1903 and designed by architect Vjekoslav Bastl. The façade features statues by Rudolf Valdec, while the dome's interior is adorned with frescoes by Oton Iveković.

The collection, comprising around 80,000 pieces, showcases Croatia's ethnographic legacy, segmented into Pannonian, Dinaric, and Adriatic cultural regions. It vividly presents traditional Croatian lifestyles through items like intricately gold-embroidered costumes, ceremonial attire, musical instruments, furniture, culinary implements, and tools. Life-sized reconstructions of farmhouses and interiors offer a glimpse into the historical daily lives of farmers and fishermen. Additionally, the Ljeposav Perinić collection includes numerous dolls attired in traditional clothing.

Permanent exhibitions at the museum delve into the life in Kosovo during the Ottoman period, adopting a 'circle of life' theme that encompasses birth, life, death, and inheritance. Spread across two buildings, the displays recreate rooms as they would have appeared in Ottoman times, including specific rooms dedicated to birth and death. Other exhibits feature traditional jewelry, clothing, pottery, weaponry, and various tools. The museum also provides knowledgeable English-speaking guides who can enrich your visit with further insights into the region's history and culture.