The Grand Candelabra of Zadar

To commemorate the centennial of Zadar’s first electric light bulb, a grand candelabra was erected in People’s Square in 1994. This structure is a replica of the old candelabra, a public street lighting pole named after a candlestick.

The “Narodni list” newspaper vividly described the grand public celebration on New Year’s Eve 1894 when the first electric light illuminated People’s Square: “The crowd gathered in Gospodski Square was immense, and then – precisely as the clock struck eight – a large electric bulb with the intensity of 1000 candles blazed, and a white, silvery, calm light illuminated the entire square, as bright as midday.”

Zadar’s commitment to public lighting dates back much further. As early as 1520, the city took care of its public illumination. By 1771, Zadar had permanent nighttime lighting, and in 1860, public kerosene lighting with 300 light points was introduced, paving the way for the electric revolution that would follow decades later. The replica candelabra in People’s Square serves as a beautiful reminder of this illuminating history.