Folklore

Despite - or because of - repeated invasions over the centuries and amalgamation with other countries, Croatians have maintained a strong, distinctive culture. Croatians depict their daily life through folklore. Songs, dances and costumes exist for every occasion in all parts of the country. Croatian dances are physically demanding, as dancers sing while they perform brisk and lively movements. In the kolo, men and women dance in a circle to the music of violins or the tambura, a three- or five-string mandolin. Guitars and accordions are other common folk instruments. Folk arts are performed at special events and regional gatherings such as the Zagreb International Folklore Festival.

Croatian national instruments
(Croatian/English/German)

One of the most famous Croatian national instruments is "tamburica" The "tambura" (expression for all instruments, that exist in a tamburica-orchestra) is an instrument with strings, related to the Russian balalaika, the Ukrainian bandura, the Italian mandolina, the Spanish guitar and other similar instruments.

Classical music

Croatia also has a strong tradition of classical music with numerous well known composers and musicians. Some of the most prominent Croatian composers are Luka Sorkocevic, Vatroslav Lisinski, Jakov Gotovac, Ivan Padovec and Dora Pejacevic. Musicians of international reputation are Ana Vidovic, Monika Leskovar, Valter Despalj, Maksim Mrvica, Istvan Römer, Darko Petrinjak and many others. Ivo Pogorelich is an internationally known concert pianist. To learn more about classical music in Croatia, about various composers and musicians click here.

Literature

Soon after the printing press was invented, Croatian literature entered the European scene. The Croatian nobility was deeply involved in literature, leaving much by way of poetry and translations. The famous playwright Marin Drzic (1508-67) helped raise the language to a high literary level. The 20th century has seen a strengthening of Croatian writing. The novelist, playwright and poet Miroslav Krleza is internationally known for his works The Return of Philip Latinowicz (1932) and the multivolume Banners (1963-65), which concerns Croatian life at the turn of the century. Vesna Parun is a well-known contemporary poet.

Classics of Croatian literature
(Croatian)

This web site provides an alphabetical list of the most prominent Croatian poets and novelists with the titles of their best work available online in Croatian language.

Croatian  Poetry
 (English)
 This website contains poetry in Croatian language dating from
 the renaissance to the end of the 19th century.
 It also includes poetry in various dialects of the Croatian
 language

Painting

The oldest known Croatian paintings are from the 11th century and Croatian painters have been present on the international cultural scene ever since. Some of the internationally known Croatian painters are Julije Klovic, Vlaho Bukovac, Josip Racic, Miroslav Kraljevic, Ferdinand Kulmer and Edo Murtic. In the 20th century, Croatia's contribution to the world of fine arts has been the movement of Croatian Naive Art or self-taught artists; one of the most notable of these artists is Ivan Lackovic-Croata. Other well-known Naïve painters include Ivan Generalic, Ivan Rabuzin and Stjepan Vecenaj. Sculptures have been expressed in ornamental relief since the 10th century. The most famous Croatian sculptor is Ivan Mestrovic (1883-1962), who created such works as the wooden Madonna and Child. His sculptures can be found in town squares throughout Croatia, as well as internationally. His piece The Canadian Phalanx 1914-1918 resides in Ottawa at the Veterans' Memorial Building.

click here to find out more about Croatian painters

Architecture

Croatia's architecture dates back to Roman times. Important preserved Roman sites are the Diocletian Palace (at Split), the Euphrasius Basilic (Porec), and the Roman Colosseum and Temple of Augustus (both in Pula). The Adriatic islands contain over 13 centuries of Croatian architectural history, and the city of Dubrovnik is famous for its medieval and Renaissance architecture. Croatian architects of today are sought internationally; the New London Theatre was designed by the Croatians Vladimir Turina and Pavie Tvrtkovic.