John Martinis (born in 1958 in Los Angeles) in his Lab in the USA,
now professor of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Nobel Prize winner (2025).
His father Ivo was born in Croatia, on the island of Vis (in the town of Komiža),
while his mother Iva is American Croat born in San Pedro, and her both parents are from Croatia.
John Martinis indicated that he is a distant relative of Nikola Tesla via his mother’s side. Nikola Tesla is one of his idols.
Saturday, 4 July, 2026
and to the right, H.E. Siniša Grgić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Sweden.
Photo by the University of Split.
Sunday, 5 July, 2026
Professor Martinis is a distant relative of Nikola Tesla, via his mother’s side.
Monday, 6 July, 2026
Second from the left is David Smith, director of IRB. Photo by IRB.
To the right of him is Damir Zorić, the current president of this association.
He was awarded by the honorary membershiop of Matica hrvatska.
Photos by Mirko Cvjetko.
Tuesday, 7 July, 2026
Photos by the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
Photo by the Nikola Tesla Museum in Smiljan.
Wednesday, 8 July, 2026
Hydro-electric (AC) plant Krka, active since 28th August, 1895, was one of the earliest ones in the world.
(It was completed just two days after the Tesla (or Adams) AC Power Plant on the Niagara river.)
The nearby city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast was the first one in the world to have been electrified using AC.
Photo by the Krka National Park.
in the National Park of Krka river, where they arrived with a small boat.
Photo by the Krka National Park, Croatia.
Thursday, 9 July, 2026
Photos by the University.
After visiting the city of Split, John Martinis went with a boat to the island of Vis, where he spent two days. He visited the Franciscan Monastery in the town of Vis, and then went to the town of Komiža, where his father Ivo was born. He became honoray citizen of Komiža, which used to be an important fishing village. He was acquainted with the traditional falkuša wooden fishing boat.
John Martinis then visited nearby islet of Biševo and its beutiful cave named Modra Špilja (Blue Cave). He was even crowned as the King of the Island of Biševo. John Martinis visited the town of Komiža already as a student in 1978, jointly with his father Ivo Martinis.
Friday, 10 July, 2026
John Martinis visited the City of Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful medieaval cities in the world, including its famous central street called Stradun. In its harbour, he also visited the (reconstructed) ship called Dubrovnik Karaka for toursits.
Friday, 10 July, 2026
John Martinis was present at the opening of the traditional Dubrovnik Summer Festival (10th July – 25th August 2026).
John Martinis likes the following two videos featuring John Malkovich:
- Croatia | I Hear It’s Beautiful ft. John Malkovich
- Croatia | I Hear It’s Beautiful ft. Malkovich & Modric
Monday, 13 July, 2026
with one of Croatia’s highest state honors, the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Star.
The name of King Zvonimir from 11th century is mentioned on the Baška Tablet,
carved in Croatian Glagolitic Script about the year 1100.
Photos in this section by Davor Puklavec / Pixell. Source president.hr
Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Star.
The ceremony included
- Her Excellency Nicole McGraw, the U.S. ambassador to Croatia,
- Ross Johnston, the first secretary of the U.S. Embassy, and
- H. E. Siniša Grgić, Croatia’s ambassador to Sweden.
and Her Excellency Nicole McGraw (U.S. ambassador to Croatia).
Photos on this web-page by the courtesy of Miroslav Dorešić, unless indicated otherwise.
Many thanks to Miroslav Dorešić (theoretical physicist, Zagreb) for having initiated the visit of John Martinis to Croatia, as well as to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and to the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia.
