Archaeological Museum in Zagreb completely rebuilt and reopens to visitors

(Photo credit: M. Vrdoljak/Zagreb Tourist Board)

ZAGREB,  18 July  (Hina) – The Archaeological Museum, which was damaged in the 22 March 2020 earthquake, was renovated and reopens its doors to visitors, representatives told a news conference in Zagreb on Tuesday.

Museum director Ivan Radman-Livaja said that the post-quake reconstruction has been conducted in a few stages, and that the rebuilding was conducted floor by floor.

The total project of the reconstruction cost €2 million. In addition to the building, 178 museum artefacts were also damaged in that natural disaster.

Of those two million euros, the museum used its earthquake insurance to get €2 million for the renovation, €513,000 was taken from the Solidarity Fund, while INA, American Croats and arts  lovers made donations.

The next project is to renovate the frontage and the City of Zagreb will set aside €3 million for this project.

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

The culture ministry state secretary, Ivica Poljičak, said that some other quake-damaged museums in the centre of Zagreb are undergoing reconstruction.

The renovated Croatian School Museum is expected to reopen by the end of this year, and the renovated Natural  History Museum is opening its doors in September.

The Archaeological Museum in Zagreb evolved from the National Museum, the oldest museum institution in the capital. The National Museum began its public activities in 1846, and in 1866, it was formally recognised and came under the Parliament’s jurisdiction.

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

The Archaeological Museum became an independent entity in 1940 after the National Museum was dissolved. The museum’s collection comprises over 450,000 artifacts sourced from various origins. Among these are items of exceptional significance, such as:

The Eneolithic Dove of Vučedol

The Psephisma of Lumbarda, marking the establishment of a Greek colony on Korčula

A Roman portrait of a Young Girl from Salona, likely Princess Plautilla

The Branimir inscription from 888 AD, the earliest known dated inscription of a Slavic ruler.

More details about opening hours on the official website here.