Diocletian's Palace, Split (must see)
The "Palace" of Diocletian is more than a palace. It is really a fortress. It provided not only a private retirement home for the ex-emperor, but quarters for an armed garrison. It was a "key" community like no other. The palace, built at the turn of the fourth century, today forms most of the old town of Split, Croatia.
The palace complex was built on a peninsula about 18 miles from Salona, then the capital of Dalmatia and the birthplace of the retired Roman emperor. When Diocletian died in 312, the palace complex remained a property of the Roman imperium. It was used as a residence and refuge for members of imperial family who were out of favor.
In the seventh century the country was invaded by Avars and Slavs and the city of Salona was destroyed. The people found security within the formidable walls of the palace. Safe behind the walls they formed a new city community. From that time the palace has been continually occupied and today it is the heart of the city of Split.
The mausoleum of Diocletian became the cathedral of Saint Domnius. In time the remains of the fortress home of the emperor dropped out of the consciousness of Europe. Then the Scottish architect Robert Adam surveyed the ruins and published his findings. The palace formed the inspiration for Adam's style of Neoclassical architecture.
The plan of the palace has been found to be an irregular rectangle with 16 towers from the facades and corners. Only the southern facade was unfortified. It provided easy access to the sea and vessels could unload cargo directly through the Sea Gate.
There are three other gates that grant entrance and egress. The North Gate guarded the road towards Salona. The Church of Saint Martin is above the gate. The East Gate faced the town of Epetia, now Stobrec.
The West Gate, was used as the military gate. It remains in use today. The South Gate faces the sea.
Why You Should Visit:
The long history and diverse cultures of Split are distilled and contained in this remarkable Palace.
Tips: Be prepared to do a lot of walking.
The palace complex was built on a peninsula about 18 miles from Salona, then the capital of Dalmatia and the birthplace of the retired Roman emperor. When Diocletian died in 312, the palace complex remained a property of the Roman imperium. It was used as a residence and refuge for members of imperial family who were out of favor.
In the seventh century the country was invaded by Avars and Slavs and the city of Salona was destroyed. The people found security within the formidable walls of the palace. Safe behind the walls they formed a new city community. From that time the palace has been continually occupied and today it is the heart of the city of Split.
The mausoleum of Diocletian became the cathedral of Saint Domnius. In time the remains of the fortress home of the emperor dropped out of the consciousness of Europe. Then the Scottish architect Robert Adam surveyed the ruins and published his findings. The palace formed the inspiration for Adam's style of Neoclassical architecture.
The plan of the palace has been found to be an irregular rectangle with 16 towers from the facades and corners. Only the southern facade was unfortified. It provided easy access to the sea and vessels could unload cargo directly through the Sea Gate.
There are three other gates that grant entrance and egress. The North Gate guarded the road towards Salona. The Church of Saint Martin is above the gate. The East Gate faced the town of Epetia, now Stobrec.
The West Gate, was used as the military gate. It remains in use today. The South Gate faces the sea.
Why You Should Visit:
The long history and diverse cultures of Split are distilled and contained in this remarkable Palace.
Tips: Be prepared to do a lot of walking.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Split. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Diocletian's Palace on Map
Sight Name: Diocletian's Palace
Sight Location: Split, Croatia (See walking tours in Split)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Split, Croatia (See walking tours in Split)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Split, Croatia
Create Your Own Walk in Split
Creating your own self-guided walk in Split is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Diocletian Palace Tour
One of the best preserved monuments of the Roman architecture in the world, Diocletian's Palace was built for the Emperor Diocletian, at the turn of the 4th century AD, as his retirement home. Massive and resembling a fortress rather, it represents a combination of a luxury villa and a military garrison, and is divided into four parts by two main streets. Integral of the historic core of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Split Introduction Walking Tour
Split is the largest city in Dalmatia. It is a regional transport center, a tourist magnet, and the ancient dacha of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Like most other cities of the Mediterranean, it started out as a Greek colony. The original name was Aspalatos.
Supposedly, the city owes its name to the word for "spiny broom." Which spiny broom is not clear, but history has many such... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Supposedly, the city owes its name to the word for "spiny broom." Which spiny broom is not clear, but history has many such... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Marjan Hill Walking Tour
Marjan Hill is a picturesque natural wonder 鈥� a unique landform 鈥� located on the Split peninsula in Croatia. The majestic hill (or the low mountain, if you like) is surrounded by the sea and the city, and represents the green oasis ideal for walks, excursions, and rock climbing. Visitors to the area are greeted with a plethora of sights catering to various interests and equally enjoyed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles