Permanent Exhibition: Villa Angiolina — The Story of Opatija

The new permanent exhibition of the Croatian Museum of Tourism, titled “Villa Angiolina – The Story of Opatija”, presents the first section of the history of the very place where the tourism story of Opatija, and the entire eastern Adriatic coast, first began.

The central theme of the exhibition is the transformation of this summer villa into a symbol of Opatija’s rise into one of the most prestigious European health resorts and tourist destinations. Here, visitors have the opportunity to discover the multi-layered role of Villa Angiolina, as well as the cultural, historical, social, and political events inextricably linked to it.

Resulting from nearly two years of intensive research led by Vesna Leiner, the exhibition brings together valuable museum and archival materials from numerous Croatian and European museums, archives, libraries, and private collections. By combining original museum objects, archival records, existing knowledge, new research results, and modern multimedia, the exhibition delivers a completely fresh, interactive interpretation of the beginnings of tourism in Opatija.

Discover 19th-Century Opatija Through a Blend of History and Technology

Through original museum objects, portraits, and miniatures of the Scarpa family, stories of the villa’s former owners, and the history of Angiolina Park itself, visitors gain a unique insight into daily life and the rise of Opatija in the 19th century.

The Scarpa Family and Historical Owners: A special place in the exhibition is dedicated to the Scarpa family, the builders of the villa, whom visitors can get to know through numerous stories, as well as original portraits and miniatures. Stories of other owners, such as Count Viktor Pavel Chorinsky, the Southern Railways Company, and the International Sleeping Car Company, bear witness to the eras that shaped not only the history of the villa but also the development of regional tourism as a whole.
The History and Scents of the Park: The exhibition also covers the history of the villa’s estate, today’s Angiolina Park, in detail. Visitors can explore the plant species that grew in this area before the villa was built, as well as those planted during the time of the Scarpa family and the Southern Railways Company. A special addition is the botanical scents that await visitors, encouraging them to experience the park with all their senses.

Modern Multimedia Supporting Research and Entertainment

Modern multimedia allows for active participation in discovering the rich history of Opatija’s tourism. To ensure it is fully accessible to an international audience, all texts and multimedia content are available in Croatian, English, German, and Italian.

A 3D Journey Through Time: The exhibition features colorized and animated historical photographs, which visitors can explore using a portable stereoscope—a mid-19th-century invention designed for viewing 3D images and a direct predecessor to modern VR devices.
Interactive Games and Costuming: Visitors can play the interactive game The Drawer of Secrets, send personalized postcards, and use technology to choose historical clothing, hairstyles, and fashion accessories, momentarily transforming into guests of Opatija from the late 19th century.

Exclusive Exhibits and Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss:

The Portrait of Angiolina Scarpa: A unique opportunity to see a portrait of the young Angiolina Scarpa (née Sartorio)—the woman after whom the villa was named—previously unknown in Croatia, alongside the original miniature of Iginio Scarpa, recently added to the holdings of the Croatian Museum of Tourism.
Archival Photographs of the Chorinsky Family: Photographs of Count Viktor Pavel Chorinsky and his family, presented to the Croatian public for the very first time.
Messages from the Past: Discover the secrets of old 19th-century postcards and read what their written messages reveal about Opatija’s prestigious international reputation.
Stereoscopic Photographs: Experience Opatija in an authentic way, exactly how its very first guests viewed it through stereoscopic photos one hundred and fifty years ago.

Project Impressum

Project Realization Coordinator: Nataša Ivančević, PhD
Author of the Concept and Text: Vesna Leiner
Author of the Exhibition Design and Visual Identity: Nikolina Jelavić Mitrović
Advisory Team for Concept Development: Aleksandra Bugar, Museum Advisor; Prof. Igor Duda, PhD; Kristian Strukić, Museum Advisor; Branimir Tomić, Senior Museum IT Specialist
Expert Associates: Nataša Babić, Petar Banda, Jan Bernd Urban, Katarina Brešan, Ulrika Bornestaf, Milena Bušić, Mathias Böhm, Darija Čaleta, Duša Fischinger, Peter Futák, Vera Hinteregger, Damian Ivanić, Sanja Kosić, Denis Leiner, Dunja Nekić, PhD, Samuel Norrby, Hans Peter, Matea Plišić, Valentina Sablić, Luka Strašek, Zlatko Tot, Berislav Valušek, PhD, Kristian Volarić, Boris Zakošek.
Partner Institutions: Austrian National Library (Picture Archive and Graphics Collection), State Archives of Trieste, Dorotheum GmbH & Co KG, State Archives of Rijeka, Goriška Museum Kromberk – Nova Gorica, Sartorio Municipal Museum in Trieste, Veselí nad Moravou Municipal Museum (part of the Masaryk Museum in Hodonín), Croatian History Museum, Croatian Natural History Museum, Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka, Museum of the City of Rijeka, Museum of the City of Zagreb, Museum of Arts and Crafts, National Historical Museum – Royal Coin Cabinet (Stockholm), University Library Rijeka.
Reviewers: Aleksandra Berberih Slana, PhD; Ervin Dubrović, MSc; Prof. Amir Muzur, PhD
Proofreading and Copyediting: Dijana Stanić-Rešicki
Translations: Martin Mayhew (English), Irina Ridić (German), Ivo Vidotto (Italian)
Photography and Video: Goran Vranić
Exhibition Copy of the Angiolina Scarpa Miniature: Giulio Bonačić
Technical Realization: Stolarija Meglić
Multimedia System: AVC – Audio Video Consulting d.o.o.
Multimedia Applications: Novena d.o.o.
Lighting: Telektra d.o.o.
Media Promotion: Ivan Modrić

The realization of this exhibition was made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Opatija, the founder of the Croatian Museum of Tourism.

How the opening ceremony went, you can see here: Grand Opening of the New Permanent Exhibition: “Villa Angiolina – The Story of Opatija”