The prettiest movie theater underneath a million of stars
Some of the prettiest memories in one's life often include the open starry sky. And if you, by any chance, find yourself wandering the streets of Zagreb in search of those memories, your quest will primarily lead you to Zagreb's Upper Town. That is the perfect place for creating unforgettable memories accompanied by the magic stardust. It is high enough to see how Zagreb has grown over the years (and still is!) and still dreamy enough to get lost in ageless and mythical streets built in some other, simpler times. This is a fairytale about one of those quests.
Image credit: Ljetno kino Gradec Facebook page
Finding hidden stars on Gradec
Last summer, unlike most Croats, I didn't find the chance to escape to the coast because I had to work. So, I've decided to act like a tourist in my own city. Even though it happened out of boredom, the curiosity to see Zagreb through the eyes of a stranger always intrigued me. So, one afternoon I took my backpack and headed for the tourist starting point: Zagreb Upper Town. During my usual stroll I was taking pictures and reading about the sights of Lotrščak tower and Klovićevi dvori Museum, when suddenly I noticed a big crowd pouring in one of the yards near Katarina's Square just when the night began to fall. I decided to check it out since it smelled like a good time.
Image credit: Ljetno kino Gradec Facebook page
This little guy greeted me on my way into one of the nicest plateaus in Zagreb- Gradec. Many years ago, the city was divided into two parts: Kaptol and Gradec, hence the name of our crowded plateau. Kaptol was a kind of a posh part of the city while Gradec was reserved for the common folk. But years, and wars after, the city merged, leaving us with beautiful architecture perfect for enjoying long summer nights while watching a movie, just like I accidentally did. As it turned out, the little dwarf was welcoming people in open-air movie totally free of charge. I thought that the city was empty, but they were all just hiding here!
As Karlo, the manager of Summer Movie Gradec, told me, every night more than 300 people come here every night to have a drink, eat some popcorn and look what the cinematography finest have to offer beneath the Zagreb starry night. Everything started six years ago because some very creative people wanted to share their vision of a relaxing evening with Zagrebians. And boy I'm glad they did, and so are the Zagrebians because more than 65 000 people visited Gradec over the years!
Image credit: Ljetno kino Gradec Facebook page
Everyone is welcome!
If you are not a Zagrebian, don't worry, people from the movies have thought about you too. There are English subtitles for the non-English movies so you will understand everything. :) That's why the murmurs I heard coming from the crowd during the movies were multilingual. There really was something special in watching a movie in this beautiful historical place with all these people. It was, almost like we were creating some kind of a new history that will be remembered in these ancient walls.
They sure want you to feel welcome, and that is why they invented something called Filmbox. The idea behind the name is simple: before you wander off into the starry night filled with impressions of recently viewed movie, you just put the proposition for the next movie screening into the box. That way you become a co-creator of this Gradec magic! After the movie, I just sat in the swing and watched all the content that was coming from the people's faces. I was really thankful that my curiosity had led me to this positive atmosphere. Since then, I am a regular guest, always looking for the best spot to see both the stars, the smiles and the movie. :)
P.S. Gradec will host movies until the end of August, so come on in and enjoy the view!
Header image Credit: Ljetno kino Zagreb Facebook page
Author: Lana Suša