On Friday, November 21, 2025, the exhibition "Matija Vlačić Ilirik and His Time" was opened in Gallery C8, organized in collaboration between the Archaeological Museum of Istria, the University Library in Pula, the City Library and Reading Room Pula, and the Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria.
Director of the Archaeological Museum of Istria Darko Komšo emphasized that the exhibition represents an excellent example of collaboration between city, county, and state institutions, stressing that such cooperation is always desirable.
Director of the University Library in Pula Ivan Kraljević recalled that the institution organized a two-day conference five years ago on the 500th anniversary of Matija Vlačić Ilirik's birth, when all his works from the Flaciana collection were exhibited, part of which is included in this exhibition.
Director of the City Library and Reading Room Pula and co-author of the exhibition Nadia Bužleta noted that Matija Vlačić Ilirik lived only 55 years, which were very turbulent and difficult to summarize in an exhibition format. She highlighted that the exhibited Vlačić books are from the first flourishing of printing, which simultaneously represent his thought and carry artistic value related to the history of the book, reminding that Protestants, like Vlačić himself, used the invention of printing to affirm their own ideas.
The exhibition features three of Vlačić's most important works in first editions – History of the Church in 13 volumes, Key to the Holy Scripture, and Catalog of Witnesses of Truth, with the note that the author wrote over 200 works.
Co-author of the exhibition Katarina Marić emphasized that Vlačić gained his maturity and education far from Istria, but perhaps carried his radicalism from Istrian stubbornness, while co-author Katarina Zenzerović stressed that with this exhibition Matija Vlačić returns to his home, which he left at only 16 years old, and returned to Istria only once, at the age of 43.
City Head of Culture for the City of Pula Paola Orlić highlighted that the exhibition is an exceptional opportunity to remember, 505 years later, the man who intellectually changed the history and civilization of Europe. The exhibition was opened by the county head of culture Vladimir Torbica, emphasizing that there are great people who have great thoughts, stance, and character, and that in today's time it is more necessary than ever to be different, although it is not at all simple.
The exhibition remains open until March 1, 2026.
