Diocletian's Palace, Split

Background

Diocletian's Palace stands in the centre of the old town of Split, Croatia, on the eastern Adriatic coast, bordering the Riva seafront promenade to the south and the old town to the north. It was built at the end of the 3rd century (construction is generally thought to have begun around 295) as Diocletian's residence after his abdication, and its layout draws on both the villa and the Roman military camp: about half served the emperor's own use and the rest housed the garrison. In 1979 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the "Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian" (No. 97, criteria ii, iii, iv). The palace's ground plan is an irregular rectangle: the east wall is about 215 metres long, the north wall about 175 metres and the south wall about 182 metres. Its four gates are the northern Golden Gate, the eastern Silver Gate, the western Iron Gate and the Bronze Gate facing the sea to the south, and two main streets cross at right angles. The central colonnaded square, the Peristyle, leads to the imperial apartments; Diocletian's mausoleum was later turned into the Cathedral of St Domnius, with a Romanesque bell tower beside it; the Temple of Jupiter was later converted into a baptistery. The substructures beneath the palace are among the best-preserved ancient complexes of their kind. Diocletian brought twelve sphinxes from Egypt, three of which survive. Diocletian was born in Salona, and after abdicating on 1 May 305 he came to this palace. From the 7th century the medieval city of Split grew up inside the palace walls, and Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings were added layer upon layer within the palace quarter. The palace was also a filming location for the fourth season of the TV series Game of Thrones.

Local customs

• Enter the palace quarter from the Riva promenade through the Bronze Gate (south gate) and walk along the main street to the Peristyle square
• visit the substructures and the Cathedral of St Domnius, and climb the bell tower for views over the harbour
• then walk to the Golden, Silver and Iron Gates to get your bearings from the four gates
• browse the shops and cafés in the palace lanes and feel the everyday life of "living inside a monument"
• return to the Riva in the evening to see the palace walls and the bay.

Travel tips

• The palace quarter is explored entirely on foot, with many cobbled streets and steps, so wear comfortable shoes
• the summer sun is strong, so take sun protection and drink plenty of water. The palace streets are free to walk through, while individual buildings such as the substructures and the cathedral open separately
• opening and booking arrangements are as posted on site and officially announced.
• Split's old town is the city centre: the ferry terminal and long-distance bus station are both near the Riva promenade, within walking distance of the palace quarter
• city buses reach the edge of the old town, and inside you get around mainly on foot. Check the latest local information for specific routes and timetables. Spring and autumn are best for strolling and climbing the bell tower
• summer is hot and crowded
• winter is mild with fewer visitors and suits a close look at the architecture
• the indoor halls and churches can be visited all year round.