Zagreb, Croatia

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Todays's Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements that for centuries developed on neighboring hills. The first written mention of the city was in 1094, when a diocese was founded on Kaptol, while in 1242, neighboring Gradec was proclaimed a free and royal city.

Between the 14th and 18th centuries, during the Turkish onslaughts on Europe, Zagreb was an important border fortress. The appearance of the city changed when the Baroque reconstruction of the city in the 17th and 18 centuries. Monasteries and churches were built and many of the old wooden houses were demolished. The wealth of the city was mostly contributed by the revenues from landed estates and the offering of many craft workshops. Due to these many of the royal official, church dignitaries and rich traders from the Europe moved into the city. Schools and hospitals were opened, and the manners of European capitals were adopted. Slowly, Zagreb confirmed its position as the administrative, cultural and economic center of Croatia.

When Kaptol, Gradec and the surrounding settlements combined into the integrated city of Zagreb in 1850, the development accelerated more.

St Mark's Church is one of the oldest buildings in Zagred. When Gradec was proclaimed a free royal city in 1242 by king Bela the IVth, it wasn't required that it should have its own parish. It was only in 1261 that the parish of St. Mark was established.

It is very hard to tell when it was really built and to tell how it originally looked , as due to many city fires and earthquakes the whole city was build from scratch several times. However, it was estimated the basic stuture was built during the 13th century.

Croatian-Hungarian king Bela the IVth allowed for fairs to be held on the square and in front of the church. In front of the church a pillar of shame existed, where people were tied and punished by court orders. On the same spot, Ambroz Matija Gubec, leader of the peasant rebellion was "crowned" with a scorching iron crown.