As you might notice, Rijeka has a sort of “industrial” vibe (abandoned factories, big port, socialist buildings), and the cultural scene believes that this matches perfectly with street art. And they are absolutely right! Vodovodna Street is the perfect example of reviving the gray and forgotten buildings with amazing and colorful murals created by renowned artists. That’s why in the last couple of years it has become a street art gallery out in the open air.

Within a project called Rijeka murala (which, when translated, means “the river of murals”), more and more street artists leave their marks in the form of large, stunning, meaningful murals on the walls of buildings.

The two most recent ones are the ones by Slaven Kosanović Lunar, who decided to create a homage to Rijeka’s music scene in the form of colorful cats, which are his signature; and Tea Jurišić, who made a piece implementing a curious play of shapes, colors, and objects. The project Rijeka murala, by putting art on Vodovodna street, aims to raise awareness about street art and its value.

Unfortunately, the street is basically a dead end, so you won’t see those inspiring art pieces on your usual city walk. That’s why I recommend specifically putting it in your schedule, taking a camera and starting exploring the city art. If you follow the murals long enough, they will take you to Hartera, another landmark of Rijeka’s industrial culture!