The city of Zagreb was founded in the Middle Ages on two hills, which are the secular Gradec, the present Upper Town, and the ecclesiastical Kaptol. The Church of Saint Mark is located on Saint Mark's Square, which used to be called Radic Square and is the central square in Upper Town.
Saint Mark's Square was named after St. Mark's Church. The most important state institutions of Croatia are located around the square, namely the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Parliament and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia. The picturesque church of St. Marka is one of the oldest buildings in Zagreb and one of its symbols. It was already mentioned in the list of parish churches in the Chapter Statute of 1334. The church was built in the 13th century and from this first, Romanesque phase of construction, the window in the south wall and the bottom of the bell tower have been preserved. The Gothic arches and presbytery were built in the second half of the 14th century, when the church received its most valuable part - the luxurious Gothic south portal. This figuratively richest Gothic portal in Croatia was made in Parleroj's workshop, which is one of the most famous medieval sculpture workshops. The oldest coat of arms of Zagreb from 1499 is located on the northwest wall.
Church of St. Mark was completely restored in the second half of the 19th century according to the plans of Viennese architects Friedrich Schmidt and Hermann Bolle, and then restored again in the first half of the 20th century. On this occasion, the walls were painted by the famous painter Jozo Kljakovic (1888 – 1969), and the altars are decorated with works by the famous sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.