Staklena kapelica is a tiny glass-and-metal chapel in the abandoned hamlet of Omar, hidden in the forested Krmpote hinterland above Novi Vinodolski. Its official name is the Glass Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and its unusual transparent construction makes it one of the most distinctive small heritage stops in the area.
What makes the Glass Chapel unusual?
The on-site heritage panel describes an entirely metal structure with glazed fronts and a roof showing Secession characteristics. The scale is modest, but the materials are striking: daylight passes through the walls, allowing the simple interior to be seen from outside and making the chapel feel much lighter than the surrounding old stonework.
According to the same panel and local accounts recorded there, landowner Petar Krpan, known as Samac, commissioned the chapel at the beginning of the 20th century. Some secondary texts use a more precise year, but we retain the broader dating stated on site until that detail is independently confirmed.
The stone cistern beside it
The chapel is not the only object worth noticing. A separate interpretation board records a historic circular stone water cistern with a low dry-stone wall and a stone well opening. Together, the chapel, cistern and remaining walls make Omar feel less like a single roadside curiosity and more like a fragment of an older settlement landscape.
A ruined stone structure also stands nearby. Its exact former function has not been confirmed, so it should not be labelled as an earlier chapel or a house without further evidence.
Access and private property
The heritage panel explicitly states that the chapel is on private property. Treat the visit as a respectful look at a protected cultural object: follow current signs, do not enter closed areas, do not move stones and do not assume that access or the interior is always available.
We reached the area by an older paved forest road on 25 August 2026 and were able to approach quite close by car. A larger parking area was visible farther along the route towards the Celestial Labyrinths. This does not establish a permanent parking arrangement at the chapel itself. Check road and access conditions again before your visit.
How much time do you need?
Allow roughly 20–30 minutes for the chapel, cistern and photographs, excluding the drive. There is no reason to rush, but the site is small. Closed shoes are useful on the uneven ground, and water is essential in warm weather. We did not confirm a staffed facility, toilet or reliable mobile signal at the chapel.
Make it part of a Krmpote day
The strongest pairing is with the nearby Celestial Labyrinths, where the walking section takes considerably longer. For a full scenic circuit, follow our Krmpote road trip via Vidikovac Sviba and Vidikovac Kuk.
Honest verdict
The chapel alone is a short stop, not a major half-day attraction. What makes it memorable is the contrast: transparent early-20th-century architecture, old stone water infrastructure and deep forest silence in one compact place. It is especially rewarding when included in a wider Krmpote itinerary.
Visited 25 August 2026; sources reviewed 5 September 2026. Sources: on-site conservation panel, City of Novi Vinodolski sacred-heritage material, and original Croatia Portal photography.