St. Mark's Square

The square in Gradec, Zagreb's Upper Town, forms the political and historical heart of the Croatian capital. The striking St. Mark's Church rises at the center of the square, flanked by important government buildings. These include Banski Dvori, the seat of government; the Sabor palace, where the Croatian parliament has met since 1737; and the Constitutional Court. The old town hall, where the city council once met, also borders the square. The present-day architectural form of these buildings dates mostly from the early 20th century. Historic decisions were made here, including the break from the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918 and independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Until 2020, the square also served as the site for the inaugurations of Croatian presidents.

The history of the place is also marked by tragic events. The peasant leader Matija Gubec, who fell in the 1573 uprising against the nobility, is said to have been publicly tortured on this square before his execution. A face mask on a building corner is traditionally associated with him. After the murder of Stjepan Radić in 1928, the square briefly bore his name before its historic name was restored in 1990. Today, several museums surround the square, including the Croatian History Museum, the Museum of Naïve Art, the City Museum, and the Museum of Broken Relationships.

In recent times, access to the square has been severely restricted. After a shooting in October 2020, in which an attacker fired at police officers and then took his own life, the square was closed to visitors, tourists, and residents. This measure remained in place even after another incident in June 2024, in which a man set himself on fire. Despite the closure, the site remains a symbolic place in Croatia's national history.