Café Society

Recently in Zadar, Croatia, I was given a marvellous booklet on the renovation and tourist "valorization" of the cultural and historical complex: The Rector's Palace.  On its solid foundation, for centuries it has been the site of culture, prestige and power.  Apart from the stories retold of ancient street life, opera, fortress, Dominican university, literature, crafts, one article caught my eye: "Cafes as a Measure of Civility within the City".  I had not really pondered before the café society as a strong cultural element in the life of a city, despite its prominence in the history of many European cities, but it is and finds a modern re-emergence. 

In 1730, Zadar had its first café and thus started a cluster on the main square, including social rooms, even a liqueur manufacturer right on hand and those seeking business from the cultural economy established.  Thus began a sense of place where people would gather after Sunday mass and then enjoy a midday concert by the city band.  In the 19thC. it was believed that cafes represented civility within a city. 

The Rector's Palace is part of the National Museum, adding dimension with is archives, displays and research as well as complementing the antiquities, heritage and material culture of the sustainable assets of this city, now serving tourism as well.  And, the café society is part of this, especially as I took my coffee overlooking Roman ruins, significant churches, central street weaving as a spine through the city's history, and the Archaeological Museum.  

Denise Reghenzani-Kearns
PASCAL Associate