Petar Preradović Square, commonly referred to as Cvjetni trg (Flower Square) is one of the most popular spots in the city. Filled with flower stalls and cafés, this lively square has been the central point of Zagreb’s everyday life since the 14th ct, when fairs were held here.
Nowadays there is a shopping mall here, and the square is filled with people having coffee at one of the many cafés located here, and is the core of what is called špica (from German Spitze, meaning tip or peak).This exclusively Croatian phenomenon consists of people putting on their best clothes to go to the market, do chores, and have a cup of coffee in the area around Cvjetni trg, every day until around 3 p.m., but especially on Saturday mornings. The outdoor coffee drinking culture is very important in Croatia, so don’t be surprised by multitudes of people sitting outside and chatting, or even doing serious business, over a cup of coffee.
Two other important sights can be seen here: the Orthodox Church of the Holy Transfiguration, built in 1866, and the Oktogon, a passageway connecting Flower Square with Ilica, one of the most famous shopping streets in Zagreb. It consists of two passageways connected by an octagonal central area (hence the name), above which you can see a beautiful domed, stained-glass roof. This passageway, originally First Croatian Savings Bank, is now an arcade lined with mostly upmarket shops.
