1,154 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 167 countries worldwide bring the history of humanity and the planet to life. Nine of them are located in Croatia (see overview in our news article from 1.9.2022). These include the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace, which was built between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD. The promenade leads directly from the ACI marina to the former palace ensemble.
World Heritage Sites are testimonies to past cultures, material traces of encounters and exchanges, artistic masterpieces and unique natural landscapes. What they have in common is their exceptional universal value, their significance not only for national or local communities, but for humanity as a whole.
One of these Croatian World Heritage Sites is the historical complex of Split with Diocletian’s Palace, the ruins of which can still be found throughout the city today. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages using materials from the old mausoleum.
Romanesque churches from the 12th and 13th centuries, medieval fortifications, Gothic palaces from the 15th century and other Renaissance and Baroque palaces make up the rest of the protected area in Split-Dalmatia County, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 and covers a total of 20.8 hectares.
Sports skippers who want to visit Split with their own or chartered yacht are best advised to moor in the ACI marina
Sports skippers who want to visit Split with their own or a chartered yacht are best advised to moor in the ACI Marina Split in the south-western part of the bay. From there, it is a short walk along the promenade to Diocletian’s Palace.
Only short-term mooring is permitted at the city jetty directly in front of the palace ensemble. Alternatively, the Zenta Club Harbour to the east of Split Bay or the Spinut Club Harbour to the north-west can also be used.
Diocletian’s Palace (Dioklecijanova palača in Croatian) is an ancient building complex that served as the retirement home of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Today, the palace forms the city center of the Croatian port city and was converted into an inhabited fortress after the end of Roman times.
The complex was subsequently adapted to different cultural influences; numerous buildings or structural alterations from different eras bear witness to the vibrant history of the city of Split today. The building was erected between 295 and 305 A.D. It is said that Diocletian’s Palace was distinguished by its exceptional strategic location in the middle of the Roman Empire.
After Diocletian’s death, the palace became the property of the Roman emperors. It is said that the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Julius Nepos, found refuge in the palace in 475.
In the 7th century, the transformation of the former palace into a medieval town began
When Avars and Slavs invaded the area around the Bay of Kaštela in the 7th century, parts of the population fled to the palace. This marked the beginning of the transformation of the former imperial summer palace into a medieval town. The Mausoleum of Diocletian was subsequently converted into a cathedral.
Over the centuries, the original architecture was altered, but the inhabitants of this city, which was later called Spalatum (from the Latin Salonae Palatium), and later Split, knew – under Byzantine, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian rule – how to use the structure of the palace while damaging it as little as possible.
Around 500 people are thought to have lived in the palace complex, which was built according to typical Roman urban planning with a decumanus and cardo. Over the centuries, some buildings were converted, including the mausoleum (now the Cathedral of St. Dujma) and the so-called Temple of Jupiter, which is now the baptistery of St. John. New building complexes and structures were added, such as the 15th century bell tower of the cathedral, today one of Split’s landmarks.
Some of the preserved buildings of the former palace ensemble can be visited for a fee
One of the buildings that can still be visited today is the aforementioned Cathedral of St. Domnius – Sv. Dujma – with its characteristic octagonal dome. It is an architectural masterpiece and is one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. St. Dujma combines Romanesque and early Christian architectural features; the walls and ceiling of the cathedral are richly decorated with mosaics.
Right next to the Cathedral of St. Dujma, the cathedral’s tower, which is a good 60 meters high, rises above the roofs of the palace. Construction of the imposing campanile began in the 13th century and was completed in the mid-16th century. Between 1890 and 1908, the tower was restored according to plans by architect Alois Hauser. If you want, you can climb the almost 500 steps to the viewing platform.
Right next to it is the so-called peristyle, the magnificent inner courtyard of the palace. The rectangular square is centrally located at the intersection of the Decumanus and Cardo in the middle of the palace. Ornate porticoes line the west and east sides of the approximately 190 square meter courtyard. The peristyle once served as a central place for receptions and ceremonies.
On the north side of the peristyle, two lateral staircases lead via a veranda into the vestibule, the anteroom to the former imperial apartments. The building, which is rectangular on the outside, has a round vault with a circular roof opening (oculus) on the inside. The vestibule was once used as a meeting place.
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The impressive vaulted cellars are now home to galleries, stores and souvenir shops
Also on the north side of the peristyle is a staircase that leads to the palace cellars. The vaulted cellars, which can also be reached via the Bronze Gate from the Riva, were once used as a pantry and storage area. Today, the impressive vaulted cellars house galleries, stores and souvenir stores.
Opposite the entrance to the cathedral, a small alley leads to the so-called Temple of Jupiter. The temple, which has been used as the baptistery of St. John since the 12th century, is one of the most beautiful buildings in the old town. It stands on a pedestal with a granite sphinx standing guard in front of the steps. Inside is the baptismal font, which was created from altar partitions. The bust of St. John the Baptist was created by the Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.
On the north side of Diocletian’s Palace, the Golden Gate provides access to the palace area; on the east side, the Silver Gate, called Porta Orientalis by the Romans, provides access; the Porta Occidaentalis, as the Romans called the Iron Gate, is located to the west; and directly on the Riva is the Bronze Gate, or Porta Meridionalis, as the Romans called the southern entrance.
The Bronze Gate is smaller and more inconspicuous compared to the other gates; in the event of an attack, this gate would have been an escape route
The Bronze Gate, which leads into the palace cellars, is smaller than the other three portals and very inconspicuous compared to them. Nevertheless, this gate was of great importance at the time, as it provided direct access to the sea and the imperial cellars in Diocletian’s time; in the event of an attack, this gate would have been an escape route. Today, almost all guided tours of the palace begin at the Bronze Gate.
Many people visit the palace complex every year, which is no wonder as it is now one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world. People still live in the buildings, and the many small cafés, restaurants and stores between the former palace walls add to its popularity with tourists from all over the world.
Admission prices:
Admission is charged for certain areas of Diocletian’s Palace. Tickets are available from the local tourist information office and the ticket office at the Iron Gate. If you would like to visit several or all areas of the palace, you can purchase an inexpensive combined ticket.
Prices (examples):
“Blue Ticket” (Crypt, Baptistery & Cathedral) 9 euros
“Red Ticket” (crypt, baptistery, cathedral & treasury) 10 euros
“Green Ticket” (cathedral, treasury & bell tower) 12 euros
“Yellow ticket” (cathedral, baptistery, bell tower) 13 euros
“Purple Ticket” (bell tower, cathedral, crypt, baptistery, treasury) 15 euros.
Individual areas can be visited for between 3 and 8 euros. Opening hours: Cellar vault of the palace 8 am to 8 pm, cathedral Mon. to Sat. 8 am to 8 pm, cathedral Sun. 12 pm to 6 pm (subject to change).
