Zemunik Gornji: Church, Mural and Local History

Zemunik Gornji brings together religious remembrance and a more recent local history shaped by football. Points of interest include the Church of Sv. Josipa radnika, a statue of Archbishop Ivan Prenđa and a mural dedicated to Hajduk. A historic small-sided football tournament and the landscape of Ravni kotari also give the town its distinctive character.

The Church and Remembrance of Ivan Prenđa

Zemunik Gornji is the birthplace of Archbishop Ivan Prenđa. A statue of him stands in the square at the start of the road to the parish church of Sv. Josipa radnika. The square thus connects a specific place in everyday community life with the memory of a son of the town.

The branch church of Sv. Josipa radnika belongs to the parish of Kraljica mira – Kraljica Hrvata and was consecrated on April 27. Its patron is Saint Joseph the Worker. In recent years, investment has gone into restoring the church. Together, its dedication, parish affiliation and restoration offer a glimpse into the town’s religious history.

A trail reaching further back leads to a church originally dedicated to Saint George. In the 13th century, it became the parish church of the medieval villages of Podberjane and Starovšane, which correspond to present-day Gornji Zemunik. The historical village names place this church connection within the area’s medieval history.

Mural and Football Culture

A new mural dedicated to Hajduk is located in the part of Zemunik Gornji crossed by the Kalmetina. It is titled “Srce sam tebi dao i nije mi žao”. Local Hajduk supporters created the work, and residents and fans gathered for its unveiling. The mural thus combines a local dedication to football with a shared occasion for people in the area.

Small-sided football is also part of the town’s history: in 2011, Zemunik Gornji hosted the sixth “Roland Vrsaljko” memorial tournament. The fact that it was already the sixth edition shows that the tournament had become an established event. The 2011 edition lasted ten days.

Landscape of Ravni kotari

Zemunik Gornji lies at an average elevation of 105 metres. The municipal area of Općina Zemunik Donji lies in the flat, field-dominated landscape of Ravni kotari. The area has occasional low hills no higher than 200 metres, as well as limestone-shaped elevations and shallow depressions. The wider municipal area is also described as having sub-Mediterranean plant communities and areas of scrub, brush and scree.

When describing the landscape, it is worth keeping the different scales in mind: the 105 metres refers to Zemunik Gornji’s average elevation, while the relief and vegetation concern the wider landscape of Općina Zemunik Donji. This makes it possible to describe the town both by its own elevation and by its rural regional setting.

Regional Orientation

In the wider travel destination of Općina Zemunik Donji, Zadar Airport is located in the town of Zemunik Donji. A bus line connects Zadar city centre with the airport. Check the current timetable before travelling so you can assess the connection for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Zemunik

Return to the main travel overview: Općina Zemunik Donji.