Fancy taking a trip back through time in Croatia's capital city? Now you can!
On Tuesday the 15th of May, 2018, in Zagreb's Technology Park, the very first digital tour of Zagreb was launched, presenting the city's offers and sights to tourists with the theme of time travel, via the help of modern technology (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
During the tour, visitors will get to experience the wonders of the city's past and the present with the help of a tablet that becomes their "time machine" and enables them to enter the digital window into the past, and get better acquainted with Zagreb's otherwise inaccessible urban legends and historical events.
Gemification is the future which has been recognised by the world's largest companies, as well as by the Zagreb Time Travel team. Tourists can collect points through this application by solving historical puzzles and interesting mysteries by learning about the city through the game.
The city guides in the first tour are famous women from Zagreb's history (Manda, Ms. Senoa, Barica, Marija Jurić Zagorka, Dora Krupićeva, the Black Queen (Crna Kraljica), etc). In addition, many interesting facts about the city can be discovered, as well as the opportunity to capture photos with historical characters and unique Zagreb backdrops that can then be shared on social networks in order to promote the City of Zagreb.
A media conference on the subject was held by two of Zagreb's most famous characters who have been ''resurrected'' for the introduction of an application aiming to revive the city's rich history, Barica from Dolac and the city's most famous writer - Marija Jurić Zagorka.
Additionally, an interesting panel saw the participation of those who collaborated in the realisation of the project: Ivana Rajković Pavlić from the Development Agency, Dražen Nikolić from Founder Institute Croatia, Ervin Silić from Studena Novena, Iva Silla from Secret Zagreb, Ivona Filej Ribarić from Zagrebačka banka and Iva Peroković from Swanky hostel, who all gave their respective contributions and support to the project.
"This project aims to show how in Croatia, creativity, dedication and effort can succeed, and that we need to believe in our dreams, and then success won't be missed," stated the co-founder of Zagreb Time Travel, Kata Barišić, a successful long-time entrepreneur and owner of the webshop PokloniMe.
In 2016, this project won an award as part of Startup Factory Zagreb, and was recognised and co-financed by the Zagreb Tourist Board. It also won the first prize in the ''entrepreneurship" category as part of the #MojZabaStart2017 contest, as well as the award of the public which was naturally a source of particular satisfaction.
"After Zagreb, we plan to devise routes for other Croatian and world cities," concluded Kata Barišić.
The Zagreb Time Travel application can be found on tablets and in line with mobile apps, it will offer discounts and recommendations for the city's museums, hostels, catering facilities, and the like. The first tour is available in Croatian and English language and can be booked at a price of 30 euro for up to three people.
