Meštrović Gallery

The finest collection of work by Ivan Meštrović (1883–1962), Croatia's greatest sculptor, housed in the villa he designed for himself on the southern slopes of Marjan Hill. Meštrović worked in a monumental figurative style influenced by Rodin and Michelangelo; his subjects range from religious themes and Croatian mythology to portraits and abstract studies.

The gallery contains around 190 sculptures in wood, marble, and bronze, plus drawings, paintings, and architectural plans. The building itself — a large neoclassical villa with a peristyle, loggia, and formal gardens — is an extension of Meštrović's artistic vision. It is about 2.5 km west of the old town, an easy 20-minute walk along the coast or a short taxi ride. Allow 90 minutes for a proper visit.

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A story
Ivan Meštrović designed this villa as his summer home and studio, completing it in 1939 — and then never lived in it. The Second World War intervened; Meštrović was imprisoned by the Ustasha regime, then escaped to Italy and eventually emigrated to the United States. He donated the villa and its contents to the Croatian state in 1952, two years before his death, and has never returned.