Diocletian's Palace © Judith Duk
Diocletian's Palace
Roman Emperor Diocletian, having abdicated his throne in AD 305,
decided to spend the last years of his life in Dalmatia and built a
palace for that purpose on the bay of Aspalathos, on the south side
of a peninsula extending into the Adriatic Sea. The spot he chose
is now the very heart of the city of Split, and the palace still
stands as the city's main tourist attraction. The building and the
entire historic Split inner city area around it have been declared
a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Within the palace walls are
a network of narrow cobblestone alleyways that house a mixture of
residential apartments; modern shops, cafes and restaurants;
ancient Roman relics and a magnificent cathedral. The palace is
interesting in that it was designed to combine a luxurious palace
with the defences of a military camp, having towers and
fortifications on its landward sides with three monumental gates.
Originally situated on the water, the palace is now fronted by the
city's popular waterfront promenade and faces onto the harbour. The
buildings are made from local white limestone, quarried on the
nearby island of Brac.
Admission: Free. A nominal fee (5-10 kn) is charged for entry to some of the attractions
Archaeological Museum
Founded in 1820, the Archaeological Museum in Split is the
oldest Museum in Croatia. Its displays include many archaeological
artefacts from prehistoric times, the Greek colonial period, and
from the Roman, early Christian and Medieval ages. Most of the
relics found in excavations of the Roman city of Salona are
displayed here. There is also a large collection of antique coins
and a large library.
Address: Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25;
Telephone: (021) 318 721;
Website: www.mdc.hr/split-arheoloski/eng;
Opening time: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 2pm; Saturday and Sunday until 1pm (June to October). Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am to 1pm;
Admission: 10 kn (adults), 5 kn (concessions)
