Vault of Love and a Little Bit of Magic
First things first. Don't forget to bring your camera, because you will be needing it a lot! I will take you on a virtual tour of two of my favorite Zagreb's museums, places where I go not only to discover new things but to discover myself, as well.
Like any other capital city, Zagreb offers a wide choice of museums to visit, which differ in thematics, the materials they collect and of course in the entrance fee. Everyone will find something for themselves - from the Museum of Arts and Crafts whose collection comprises about 100,000 objects to my personal favorite Museum of Broken Relationships which hosts exhibits with stories of past relationships donated by people from all over the world.
The Museum of Broken Relationships is located in the Kulmer Palace in the historical part of Zagreb's Upper Town. Maybe the name seems weird or depressing and it repulses you, but I encourage you to give it a shot. It will be worth your time. Various objects that represent lovers' emotions are located there. Can you imagine? It can be pretty breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time.
I'm sure the items you imagined are the reflections of your own feelings. And that is what this museum is all about. People, or better, people with broken hearts, donate various items to the museum to share their feelings with other people. It's an amazing way for a broken heart to heal – you don't hold your pain, you give it away.
Image credit: brokenships.com
It's private and personal, it's tragic, and it's loveable. A real connection with other people's hearts can be felt, and you can't be indifferent while seeing an axe that was used to chop furniture of an ex-lover. All those love letters to ex-lovers might seem a bit too much, but I find them adorable. They are written traces of what used to be greatest love stories. At least, they believed so.
Not all letters are sad. Some letters share stories, some share pain, and some... some make you wonder? The manner of collecting data and exhibits is quite strange, personal, and definitely unique. Check it out, share your story and donate your personal item to ease your pain. Whatever you do, you will be a part of other people's hearts, and that is what this museum is all about.
Image credit: brokenships.com
Since I was a little girl, I have always thought that love is some kind of magic. Not exactly Merlin's magic, but magical enough to make us feel different from the way we used to feel. That little girl in me still loves magic, and that is why I was exhilarated when Museum of Illusions opened its doors last summer. The museum is located just a few minutes' walk from the central square at 72 Ilica Street.
The visitors can see more than 70 exhibits which will make you rub your eyes in disbelief as well as the largest hologram exhibitions in this part of Europe. Pretty magical, right?
Image credit: muzejiluzija.com
During my first visit, I defied gravity in a room where water flows uphill, I got lost in a maze of mirrors and my head was served on a platter. No, I am not dreaming, that really happened. Or at least, it looked like that. And that is a magical illusion which I can live with.
There is also an educational side of this Museum, so you can learn about vision, perception, the human brain, and science so it will be easier to comprehend why your eyes see things which your brain cannot understand. It is not unusual to see couples in love or parents with children wandering around this wacky place. The museum quickly became a very popular attraction, and it should be like that because this place is not like any other museum, it is a unique place of illusionary experiences.
Image credit: muzejiluzija.com
As I said, I visit these museums not only to discover new things. I come here when I want to reminisce about all those love stories that just weren't meant to be. I also visit them when I want to remind myself that magic is real when you believe in it.
Header image credit: brokenships.com
Author: Slavica Furčić