Cardiff launched their URC campaign with a four-try bonus point victory over their determined Italian guests at the Arms Park.
There were first-half tries from full-back Cam Winnett, wing Iwan Stephens and flanker Dan Thomas with the first two created by the boot of Man of the Match Callum Sheedy.
Then, just before the hour mark, second row Josh McNally ploughed over off a lineout won by wing Mason Grady to secure maximum points.
After so many narrow defeats in the league last season, it will have been a relief to finish on the right side of a close scoreline, with Zebre having contributed a great deal to the contest.
Matt Sherratt’s team will now move on to a Welsh derby with a trip to Llanelli to take on the Scarlets lying ahead next Saturday.
There were competitive debuts for the club for half-backs Aled Davies and Sheedy, impressive wing Stephens, prop Danny Southworth, lock McNally and openside Thomas, with Irish loosehead Ed Byrne and South African scrum-half Johan Mulder taking their bows off the bench.
Zebre, who finished bottom of the URC table last season, arrived with a new man at the helm with former Italy U20s boss Massimo Brunello having replaced Fabio Rosselli as head coach.
The visitors, clad in bright yellow jerseys, opened the scoring after eight minutes when fly-half Giovanni Montemauri landed a penalty earned at the breakdown.
But Cardiff swiftly responded with a try carved out by the combined creativity of their midfield.
Off a Teddy Williams lineout claim, Wales fly-half Ben Thomas went to first receiver and worked a one-two with co-centre Rey Lee Lo who delivered an offload in the tackle to put Thomas into the space to make good ground.
Then, after the ball was recycled, it was over to former Bristol No 10 Sheedy. He had plentiful options with no fewer than eight men outside him to the left.
But, after taking a second to survey them all, he opted to go for the cross kick and executed it perfectly, enabling Winnett to touch down.
Sheedy slotted the conversion from wide out and then proceeded to provide further evidence of his ability to set up a score with that cultured right boot of his.
It was a very similar scenario to the opening try.
Once again, inside centre Thomas acted as first receiver off a set-piece, with Davies by-passing decoy Sheedy from a scrum.
And, just like a few minutes earlier, Thomas put Lee-Lo into a half-gap, with the Samoan veteran crossing the gain-line.
Then, once more, it was back to Sheedy off the resulting ruck, with the fly-half this time putting in an intelligent grubber kick for Stephens who won the race to the ball to touch down.
It wasn’t long before Cardiff posted their third try, with the forwards now taking centre stage with a training ground score.
From a close range lineout, Teddy Williams popped the ball down to fellow lock McNally and the pre-planning worked a treat as openside Thomas spun his way over the whitewash.
Having turned round with a 17-3 lead, the hosts went on to secure the four-try bonus point after 56 minutes.
It was another score from a training ground ploy, with Grady racing over from his right wing to stand at the front of the lineout and leap high to win the ball. Maybe there’s yet another position the 6ft 5ins utility back can occupy!
His successful leap set up a maul which was followed by strong carries from replacement back row Alun Lawrence and McNally, with the former Bath lock muscling his way over.
To their credit, Zebre weren’t about to lie down and delivered a fine try, with a delayed pass from Giacomo Da Re releasing centre Giulio Bertaccini who scythed his way through to the line from 40 metres out.
And the visitors from Parma had the final word when flanker Samuele Locatelli went over in the final play to earn a deserved losing bonus point