The Home of Vedrana Rudan: A 400-Year-Old House in Rijeka
In an RTS show, the writer opened the doors of her home and recounted how her husband found the building, a zero-category monument, along with a humorous anecdote involving a craftsman.
In an RTS show, the writer opened the doors of her home and recounted how her husband found the building, a zero-category monument, along with a humorous anecdote involving a craftsman.
Croatian writer Vedrana Rudan passed away on August 18, 2026, at the age of 77, leaving behind a home in Rijeka that she shared with her husband for decades. The 400-year-old house, as she once recounted in the RTS show 'TV Faces Like Any Normal World,' was found by her husband, but her first encounter with the edifice was not love at first sight.
"My husband found this small, old house. I believe this building is 400 years old; it's a zero-category monument," Rudan said in the show, parts of which were shared by Kurir.rs. When asked how she reacted upon first seeing it, she admitted she was appalled by its condition.
"When I saw that ruin, I was horrified. I liked it, but I told my husband, 'Don't ask me anything when you get stuck with the craftsmen.' And to this day, it's still like that; we're always doing something around the house," the writer recounted, as reported by Story.hr. Despite the initial shock, over the years the house became their family home, where they were constantly renovating and repairing.
She also recalled an unusual situation with a craftsman working on their house. As she told it, she once ran into him at a café while picking up her husband, and he addressed her very rudely. "Leave him alone; this is the worst woman in the world," the craftsman said to her, to which she retorted, "Aren't you ashamed to talk like that? We've never met before in our lives, and you're talking nonsense!"
Only then did he reveal: "I built your house, woman." Rudan said she replied that he was clearly qualified to say what he did, but added that she'd still 'drink his blood.' This anecdote, shared by Kurir.rs, showcases her characteristic wit and sharp tongue.
Although she grew up by the sea and was deeply connected to Opatija and the Kvarner region throughout her life, Rudan admitted she wasn't someone who would spend hours gazing at the sea horizon. "I grew up by the sea, so the view of the sea from here doesn't excite me. But whenever I'm somewhere without the sea, I always think that beyond the buildings and trees, there must be the sea in the distance. It's in me, but not to the point where I'd stroll along the shore tossing pebbles," she said in the same show.
Due to therapy, Rudan stayed out of the public eye over the past few months, but she continued sharing posts on her website, writing about her illness, daily life, and those who supported her.
