Stone Gate, Zagreb, Croatia

"A woman from Zagreb will readily leave her town, but will then become a victim of severe homesickness. When you meet her somewhere far from Zagreb you get to know about the city in a concise and somewhat idealized and sentimental way." ~ Veselko Tenzera (1942-1985, Croatian writer and journalist )

I have decided that each time I visit my beloved native town of Zagreb, I will focus on just one or two of its many beautiful and interesting sites and take a handful of key photos to post here on my blog. To start with, on my brief visit at the beginning of this month I chose one of the most  remarkable and obvious choices - the historic Stone Gate. This fascinating piece of architecture was  first mentioned in the medieval times and used to be one of the entrances into the Zagreb old town, called "Upper Town".

North entrance, which is the entrance from the lower town. In 1731 the city was consumed by a huge fire, and according to a legend, in the flat above the Stone Gate the only thing that survived in the fire was a painting of Virgin Mary. Owing to the miraculous occurance the Stone Gate became a Chapel and a shrine dedicated to Virgin Mary.

Baroque wrought iron railing behind which the spared Virgin Mary painting hangs above an altar. The locals, visitors and tourists alike have been coming here for four hundred years to pay their respects and pray.

There are a few pews with flickering candles in front......

.....and walls covered with plaques of gratitude by people who believe Virgin Mary heard and helped them.

Lighting a candle at the Stone Gate

Western entrance, the one you would use to leave the Upper Town.

Bronze statue of Dora Krupic, a heroine from Croatia's first historical novel "The Goldsmith's Gold" by the famous novelist August Senoa. The novel is set in the 16th century when the Stone Gate was locked overnight and the Goldsmith, who lived next door, was the key keeper. Hence Dora, his daughter, is pictured holding a key in this sculpture by the 20th century sculptor Ivo Kerdic.