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Salute the Sun and Sea: The Iconic Art Installations of Zadar

Author: Lisa Jeeves
by Lisa Jeeves
Posted: Jun 20, 2017

Zadar is located on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, one of Europe’s best destinations. The city is steeped in natural and cultural history, but it’s also known for its highly interesting art installations that are inspired by nature. These two installations, The Sea Organ and The Sun Salutation can be found on Zadar’s waterfront.

The Sea Organ

The Sea Organ is an experimental twist on a musical instrument. The motion of the sea waves pass through 35 organ pipes built under a set of large marble steps, creating the enchanting musical sounds you can hear. There are whistles embedded in the different sized pipes. As you move along the installation, the sounds change and you hear whole new harmonies.

As we all know, the tides and winds can be unpredictable so no two ‘songs’ are played by The Sea Organ. The random movement of energy from the sea creates long and mournful sounds, which keep you engrossed and eager to hear what sounds could be next. The volume increases whenever boats and ships pass close by. I enjoy sitting on the steps, listening to the sounds of The Sea Organ was the sun sets. It’s ethereal and mesmerising.

It opened in April 2005, designed by architect Nikola Basic as a response to the bland concrete reconstruction of the sea front following it’s destruction in World War Two.

The Sun Salutation

Designed by the same architect at around the same time, The Sun Salutation is only a few hundred metres from The Sea Organ. It’s a round solar panel measuring about 22 metres in diameter, made from 300 panels of multi-layered glass. Solar cells underneath power the installation and you could honestly watch it for hours on end. The solar cells absorb energy from the Sun during daylight hours and convert it to electricity to power the whole of the waterfront at night.

Once the Sun is setting, the installation displays an exciting dance of bright lights. The eight planets of the solar system are represented by relatively sized solar lights and positioned in relevance to their distance from the sun. It’s a truly other-worldly experience and, since the motions are dependent on the levels of sunlight absorbed, it’s rather unpredictable. You could visit every day and be treated to a different show.

How to Get There

After landing at Zadar Airport, taxi services are the best way to get to your hotel. Leaving from Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester and London Stansted, and priced from only £21.99, Ryanair fly to regular flights to this destination. Taxi services needn’t be a worry for you when booking with Shuttle Direct. The private taxis or shared buses can be booked beforehand at a competitive price, and the drivers are all friendly professionals.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for affordableZadar Airport taxi services, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.

About the Author

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.

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Author: Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

Member since: Oct 18, 2013
Published articles: 4550

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