Mementos from Zagreb

Among the impressive offer of souvenirs available to tourists in Zagreb, everybody is bound to be able to find something they like, something that will serve as the perfect memento of the rich traditional and cultural heritage that has been built over the years, a memento of a civilization and its achievements which have shaped the area into what it is today.

The range of products you can choose from and take home as souvenirs of Zagreb is really impressive. Many of them can be used in everyday life, some will serve just to remind you of memorable events and places, and some reflect the achievements of a modern civilization that has shaped the area into what it is today. One such product is the mechanical pen, which was first patented in Zagreb by engineer Eduard Slavoljub Penkala in 1906. Immediately thereafter, he designed the first fountain pen. Another original Croatian invention is the tie. Many people will buy this ultimate fashion accessory for businessmen as a souvenir from Zagreb. The story of this globally famous object started in the 17th century when Croatian soldiers were noticed with elegant scarves elaborately tied around their necks, even by the fashion-conscious French.

With some of its souvenirs, Zagreb pays tribute to the cultural and artistic achievements of those Croatians whose fame spans the globe. One of these was the great artist Ivan Meštrović, a sculptor whose works of art decorate not only the streets of Zagreb, but also the streets and squares of the largest cities around the world.

Ivan Meštrović was the first living artist who had a one-man show organized at the Metropolitan Museum in New York 1947. US President Dwight David Eisenhower personally presided over the 1954 ceremony in the White House that granted Meštrović American citizenship. The casting of Dora, a popular figure from the “Goldsmith's Gold”, a novel by the great Croatian novelist August Šenoa, makes a beautiful souvenir and fosters Croatia’s literary heritage. The story of Zagreb's souvenirs goes on to include some others that are very typical of Zagreb. One of them is the “licitar heart”, an exquisitely decorated cake of honey dough, traditionally used as gifts to welcome guests. Another one is the Šestine umbrella, whose bright colors and patterns reflect the folk costumes worn in the region of Zagreb. Many of the souvenirs will remind tourists of some familiar and traditional fragrances and tastes... All of these and many others can be purchased in numerous souvenir and other shops around the city.