Euroherc insurance building in Rijeka

The Euroherc Insurance Building stands right in the heart of Rijeka, and it's easy to walk past it thinking it's just another office block — until you learn what stood on this exact spot before. It makes a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring downtown Rijeka on foot, between a walk along the Korzo promenade and a visit to the harbor.

How do you get there?

The building sits in central Rijeka, within easy walking distance of the city's main landmarks — the Korzo, the cathedral, and the harbor front. Rijeka's city bus network covers the whole town, so getting there from most neighborhoods takes only a few minutes by public transport. Drivers are better off parking in one of the central car parks and continuing on foot — that way you'll also pass several other late-19th and early-20th century buildings along the way.

What's the history behind it?

The plot where the Euroherc building now stands used to hold the Rinaldi Palace, also known as the Muchovich-Rinaldi Palace. It was designed by architect Randić and completed in 1890. For decades the site was home to Croatia Line, a shipping company that was once the largest maritime carrier in the region and a symbol of Rijeka's seafaring importance.

The current, modernist structure replaced the older building and was designed by architect Vladimir Grubešić. Its facade combines white marble with reflective glazing, and the mass of the building is broken into several distinct sections rather than one solid block — a deliberate nod to the older, finer plot division that once defined this stretch of the street. It's a rare case of a modern building consciously referencing the historic layout it replaced instead of erasing it.

What should you look out for?

The main appeal here is contrast: a modernist marble-and-glass facade rising on the footprint of a 19th-century palace. Pay attention to how the building's volume splits into smaller segments instead of forming one uniform mass — that's the architect's way of echoing the old, narrower parcels that used to line this part of Rijeka. Today the building houses the headquarters of Euroherc osiguranje, a Croatian insurance company, so the interior is a working office space and not open to visitors. This is a building best appreciated from the outside, as part of the city center's architectural fabric.

When is the best time to visit?

Since this is an active office building rather than a museum with set visiting hours, the best time to see it is during daylight, when the sun brings out the reflections on the glazed facade. Rijeka is pleasant to explore year-round, but spring and early autumn bring smaller crowds and comfortable weather for walking around the center.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Euroherc building a historic landmark? The current structure is a modern building, but it stands on the site of the 1890 Rinaldi Palace and partly echoes its layout.

Can visitors go inside? No — it's an active office building housing the Euroherc insurance company, so the interior isn't open to the public.

What originally stood on this site? The Rinaldi (Muchovich-Rinaldi) Palace, designed by architect Randić, which later became the home of the Croatia Line shipping company.

Who designed the current building? Architect Vladimir Grubešić, who created the modernist structure finished in white marble and reflective glass.