Zadar: Greeting to the Sun and the Sea Organ

I’ve noticed that many of my friends on Facebook were very interested in our pics that we took by the Greeting to the Sun in Zadar.  So I thought I’d talk a little more about this particular attraction, and it’s neighbor, the Sea Organ.  Both were designed by architect Nicola Bašic.  Here’s a link to a great website giving all the details about both attractions, but I’ll also touch on some of the facts here in this post.  http://www.find-croatia.com/zadar/greeting-sun-sea-organ.html

The old town section of Zadar is built on a peninsula that runs parallel to the mainland and looks out onto the Adriatic Sea.  Both the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun are located at the end of the peninsula.  Here’s a photo taken from the mainland looking at the Old Town peninsula…

The Greeting to the Sun is actually made up of 300 glass panels with solar modules underneath them.  So during the day, light is absorbed from the Sun and converted into energy.  That energy is then used to power the lights of the attraction and the entire area around it.  During the evening and night, the Greeting to the Sun undulates with different colors and patterns, emulating the movement of the sea.  Even into the very late hours of the night, you will find people playing, sitting, running, and taking pictures at this unique work of art.  There is a long section of benches along the edge of this particular area, but be warned – the sprinklers kick in once in awhile and you just may get wet!  (Quick reflexes kept us dry!)  Laws in Croatia allow you to have open bottles of alcohol in public areas, so this is a great place to sit and enjoy a drink or two.

Just next to the Greeting to the Sun is the Sea Organ.  Under a series of steps leading down to the sea are 35 pipes of varying length, which play various pitches and chords as the waves of the sea push water and air through them.  The result is an incredibly soothing improvised musical performance.  Larger waves create louder tones, but the result is always a full range of dynamic tonal contrasts that is ever changing.  We enjoyed spending time sitting on the steps of the Sea Organ, just talking and drinking.

Here are some pics taken at the Greeting to the Sun: