Twinkling lights decorate trees and buildings in the historic center of Zagreb. The 15th annual Advent festival has begun here.
The event was opened by the mayor of the city, lighting a candle at the city fountain.
“Advent” lasts four weeks before Christmas. Last year it attracted more than 120,000 foreign visitors to Zagreb. This year, according to the city’s tourism office, hotels and other accommodations are already fully booked.
Tents have sprung up all over the city offering traditional holiday treats. The aromas of spices and smoke from wood-burning stoves waft through the streets.
Among the best-selling dishes is fritule. It is a traditional Croatian Christmas dessert with various fillings, resembling small doughnuts.
One of the most popular attractions is the outdoor skating rink in the city center. During the opening of the festival, the ballet “The Nutcracker” was performed on it.
The festival began on the last day of November and will continue until January 7.
