The curtain is slowly falling on another, jubilee twentieth edition of the Ljeto na Gradini event, and the symbolic end of one of the most successful summer seasons in Rijeka will be marked by the themed Lollipop Party, scheduled for this September. This will formally conclude three months filled with top-notch cultural and entertainment content that breathed new life into the ancient walls of the Trsat Castle and turned it into the epicenter of summer events. The organizational baton was once again firmly held by the Rijeka Tourist Board with its partners, confirming once more that this event is the crown jewel of Rijeka's summer tourist offer.
Over the past three months, Trsat Castle has been pulsating with incredible energy. More than 20,000 visitors have passed through its gates, witnessing the richness and diversity of a program that truly offered something for everyone. Two stages, one located within the impressive walls of the Castle itself and another, more intimate one, in the beautiful ambiance of Nugent's Park, were the scene of an incredible spectrum of events. The blend of tradition and modernity was visible at every turn; from the melancholic sounds of klapa singing that echoed through the stone buildings, through energetic rock and pop concerts that shook Gradina, to the avant-garde rhythms of electronic music that attracted a younger audience. The cultural mosaic was completed with evenings of laughter with popular stand-up comedians, visual artistic treats through carefully selected exhibitions, and imaginative performances that delighted the youngest visitors. Planning a stay in Rijeka during the summer has become unimaginable without checking the program at Gradina.
A Jubilee Edition as the Crown of Two Decades of Success
This year's, twentieth edition of Ljeto na Gradini had special significance. Not only did it mark two decades of existence, but its programmatic splendor surpassed all previous ones. The festival was officially opened on June 19, and the honor of starting the celebratory season was given to the legends of Dalmatian song, Tomislav Bralić and klapa Intrade. Their concert was an emotional start to a series of over twenty events that followed until today, confirming the status of Trsat Castle as an unmissable summer stage. Each concert, each performance, and each exhibition were carefully selected to satisfy the different tastes of the audience, thereby connecting different generations and artistic styles into a unique whole.
Commenting on the exceptional success of this year's season, Petar Škarpa, the director of the Rijeka Tourist Board, did not hide his satisfaction. "The combination of programmatic diversity and the incomparable, unique ambiance provided by Trsat Castle and Nugent's Park proved to be a winning combination. Ljeto na Gradini 2025 confirmed that Rijeka has the knowledge and capacity to organize a multi-layered cultural and entertainment festival that attracts all generations. We are proud to have succeeded in creating a program that was simultaneously urban and traditional, local and global," emphasized Škarpa.
International Step Forward and Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, the organizers have a clear vision. "Our primary goal in the years to come is to further strengthen existing programs, but also to introduce new, innovative content. We want to offer the audience an authentic experience that combines rich historical heritage with recent artistic expressions. We firmly believe in the huge potential of Trsat Castle as a location we manage. An event like Ljeto na Gradini must continuously work on strengthening its recognition and gradually acquire international significance, becoming a reason to come to our city," concluded Škarpa, highlighting the strategic direction of development.
One of the brightest moments confirming this international step forward was certainly the "Odyssey" project. As part of this unique event, real Korean rock stars came to Gradina – the bands YB and Rolling Quartz. Their performance brought a breath of distant Asia and an explosive k-rock energy that thrilled the Rijeka audience. The entire event had an additional dimension – it was digitally recorded as part of the filming of a popular reality show for the Korean market, thereby taking the promotion of Rijeka and its cultural offer to a completely new, global level. To make the cultural exchange complete, the Korean musicians were joined on stage by our renowned musician Dino Jelusić, creating an unforgettable musical fusion. It is precisely such initiatives that are the ideal tool for branding and tourism promotion, putting Rijeka on the map of world cultural events and attracting new guests who are looking for unique accommodation in Rijeka.
A Brand That Has Become Part of the City's Identity
In the past twenty years, an impressive number of organizers, co-organizers, artists, and sponsors have passed through the Ljeto na Gradini project. Their synergy and enthusiasm are woven into every segment of the event. The strong support of the City of Rijeka and the Kvarner Tourist Board was also indispensable, institutions that recognized the huge cultural and tourist potential of this project from the very beginning. Today, we can rightly say that Ljeto na Gradini has grown into a true cultural and tourist brand of Rijeka. It is no longer just a series of events; it has become an integral part of the city's summer identity, a place for meetings, socializing, and creating unforgettable memories. With a clear vision for further development and opening up to the international scene, the future of this event looks brighter than ever, promising many more unforgettable summers under the starry sky of Trsat, giving visitors another reason to secure their accommodation in Trsat and be part of this unique story.
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Creation time: 12 September, 2025