Zadar, Croatia

Zadar
City
City of Zadar Grad Zadar
Counter-clockwise from top: Panorama view from Cathedral Bell Tower, Church of St. Donatus and Bishops' palace on the Ancient Roman Forum, University of Zadar, St Dominic's Church, Monument to the Sun, People's Square.
Flag Coat of arms
Zadar Location of Zadar in Croatia
Coordinates: 44°6′51″N 15°13′40″E / 44.11417°N 15.22778°E / 44.11417; 15.22778Coordinates: 44°6′51″N 15°13′40″E / 44.11417°N 15.22778°E / 44.11417; 15.22778
Country	Croatia
County	Zadar
Liburni settlement	9th century BC
Roman foundation Colonia Iulia Iader	48 BC
Government
• Mayor	Božidar Kalmeta (HDZ)
• City Council	30 members • HDZ, MODES, HSU (15) • SDP, DSU, HSLS, NS-R (11) • Youth Action (2) • Independents (2)
Area
• City	25 km2 (10 sq mi)
• Metro	194 km2 (75 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
• City	75,082
• Density	3,000/km2 (7,800/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	23000
Area code(s)	23
Vehicle registration	ZD
Patron saints	St. Anastasia St. Chrysogonus St. Simeon St. Zoilo
Website	www.grad-zadar.hr

Zadar (pronounced [zâdar]; see other names) is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar serves as the seat of Zadar County and the wider northern Dalmatian region. The city proper covers 25 km² (9.7 sq mi) with a population of 75,082 in 2011, making it the fifth largest city in the country.

The area of present-day Zadar traces its earliest evidence of human life from the late Stone Age, while numerous settlements have been dated as early as the Neolithic. Before the Illyrians, the area was inhabited by an ancient Mediterranean people of a pre-Indo-European culture. Zadar traces its origin to its 4th-century BC founding as a settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians known as Iader.

In 59 BC it was renamed Iadera when it became a Roman municipium, and in 48 BC, a Roman colonia. It was during the Roman rule that Zadar acquired the characteristics of a traditional Ancient Roman city with a regular road network, a public square (forum), and an elevated capitolium with a temple.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and the destruction of Salona by the Avars and Slavs in 614, Zadar became the capital of the Byzantine theme of Dalmatia in the 7th century. In the beginning of the 9th century, Zadar came under short Frankish rule, and was returned to the Byzantines by the Pax Nicephori in 812. The first Croatian rulers gained control over the city in 10th century.