The Sphinx of Zadar — Attraction in Grad Zadar

The Zadar Sphinx is a unique and mysterious landmark located in a quiet park in the city of Zadar, Croatia. It was built in 1918 by Giovanni Smirich, a local painter and art collector, in memory of his wife, who had recently passed away. The sphinx is notable for being an unusual sight in a European coastal city and has sparked curiosity due to its exotic design and enigmatic aura.

Unlike traditional Egyptian sphinxes, the Zadar Sphinx has a more modern and stylized appearance. It is carved from concrete and features some details that differentiate it, such as a missing nose (likely eroded over time) and mysterious markings. Legend has it that the sphinx is said to grant wishes related to love, adding to its mystique.

Although it is not as famous as Zadar’s Sea Organ or Greeting to the Sun, the Zadar Sphinx is a fascinating and lesser-known piece of the city’s cultural history, blending romance, art,...

Really decent. You know, for this occasion in this country it is quite unexpected for a statue like this one to actually be located in this kind of area. You know in Zadar, it's all beaches and hot and you definitely don't expect something like this to be here. A sphinx! Yeah, you heard that right. The reason I like is as I started before it is unique and is definitely not made to be here, but rather in Egypt. It's not as big as the ones in Giza but still acceptable enough. You can climb it and enter it without any wait; it is free too. I reccomend going there either at noon or at the sunset of Zadar as it's got quite a clear view of it from there. Good environment and overall reccomended if you like history. P.S. I reccomend you take a look at the story how this was built, very...

The Sphinx is currently being renovated (which is good), however you can't see much if you are a small person (luckily, I am tall). But the real downside (hence only 2 stars) is that the park around the Sphinx is very (!) neglected. There seems to be no active gardening and many structures have fallen or are falling apart. The original villa is covered with grafiti and has seen better days for sure. This could easily become a popular and nice area if it was cared...