Most people don't realize that the narrow streets of Split's Old Town are actually hallways in Emperor Diocletian's Palace. Many restaurants and shops occupy the former palace rooms and the underground shopping center selling souvenirs used to store drinking water and wine in terracota amphoras.
Split is such an amazing place... 1700 years ago the Roman Emperor Gaius Valerius Aurelius Diocletianus, who called himself son of Jupiter, built his lavish summer palace in the bay of Aspalathos, the land of his birth. When he retired in year 305, he moved here to spend the rest of his life in the mild climate of the Dalmatian Coast. The transformation of the palace into the town began in the 7th century, when the inhabitants of nearby Salona took refuge here during the invasion of the Avars and Slavs. The early medieval town grew under the rule of Croatian kings until, at the beginning of the 15th century, the medieval free commune was replaced by Venetian administration, then Napoleon's French military rule, then Austro- Hungarian Empire, before it became a part of Yugoslavia, and only recently the country of Croatia.
Today the palace is the heart of the city of Split. The importance of Diocletian's Palace far transcends local significance because of its level of preservation and the buildings of succeeding historical periods, stretching from Roman times onwards, which form the very tissue of old Split. The Palace is one of the most famous and integral architectural and cultural constructions on the Adriatic coast and holds an outstanding place in the Mediterranean, European and world heritage.
The ground plan of the palace is an irregular rectangle with towers projecting from the western, northern, and eastern facades. It combines qualities of a luxurious villa with those of a military camp. Only the southern facade, which rose directly from the sea, was unfortified. The elaborate architectural composition of the arcaded gallery on its upper floor differs from the more severe treatment of the three shore facades. A monumental gate in the middle of each of these walls led to an enclosed courtyard. The southern Sea Gate was simpler in shape and dimensions than the other three. It was originally intended as the Emperor's private access to boats.
The Palace is built of high quality white local limestone, from quarries on the island of Brac; tuffa has been taken from the nearby river beds; and brick was made in Salonitan workshops. Some material for decoration was imported: Egyptian granite columns and sphinxes, fine marble for revetments and some capitals produced in workshops in the Proconnesos. Water for the palace came from the Jadro river near Salona, and along the road from Split to Salona impressive remains of the original aqueduct can still be seen.
The city of Split is the economic and administrative center of Middle Dalmatia, and a home to about 200,000 people. It is the jumping-off point for exploration of the Middle Dalmatian Coast and the islands of the beautiful Croatian Adriatic. Split is a city that lives at a slow pace. The feeling that persists is one of an everlasting vacation. The atmospheric squares, restaurants and cafes, the fashionable Riva sea-front promenade, and the refreshing breeze of Mistral wind in summer make it a perfect spot to gather your thoughts, consider the long history of the city and recharge before setting out to explore another lavender-covered island, another blue lagoon, or before hiking among the emerald green waterfalls of Plitvice National Park.
Split's growth became particularly rapid in the 7th century, when the inhabitants of the destroyed Greek and Roman metropolis Salonae (present-day Solin) took refuge within its walls. The ruins of Solin outside the city can still be seen today. Many of Split's historical and cultural buildings can be found within the walls of Diocletian's Palace. In addition, numerous museums, the National Theatre, and old churches and other archeological sites in the Split region make it an important cultural attraction.
Split is a busy port, with an international airport and regular ferry services to the nearby islands, the north and south Adriatic, Italy and Greece. The merchant and passenger ships of the Split shipyards may be encountered in almost all the seas of the world. The fertile fields around Split represent a good base for agriculture, while cultural monuments, superb landscapes and unparalleled seascapes make it a tourist's wonderland. Split is also a university seat and host to numerous scientific institutions.
