Zadar is frequently overlooked by travelers heading for Split or Dubrovnik, even though this was Dalmatia's capital for more than 1,000 years. This intriguing city, with fewer crowds and plenty of character, is a medieval port known for its well-preserved old town. A network of charming city streets is lined with fascinating Roman ruins, inviting and cosmopolitan cafes, and some truly superb museums. History lovers will be enthralled by the 9th-century pre-Romanesque Church of St. Donat, an impressive public light installation known as the Sun Salutation, and the Sea Organ, an innovative musical instrument powered by the waves that crash against the city's spectacular coastline, releasing eerie sounds. Set on a small peninsula and surrounded almost entirely by the warm waters of the Adriatic, the romantic setting of this enigmatic destination also inspires painters and photographers.