Split (Croatia) – sightseeing, leisurely walks and a trip to the old days. For this reason, tens of thousands of tourists come to the city, founded in the 3rd century, every year. Split’s history is as intricate as its streets, and as vivid as its landmarks. To plan a walk and see the most interesting places, read our article.
Diocletian’s Palace
It is one of the most important tourist attractions in Split and Croatia. At the end of the last century, the object was included in the UNESCO list of Cultural Heritage and recognized as the best-preserved palace building of the Roman Empire period.
The castle was built by the Emperor Diocletian, the structure occupied an area of more than 3 hectares. Construction work was completed in 305 AD. Gradually, the population of the city of Salona moved closer to the palace, and Split grew and strengthened around it. The main premises were transformed – the emperor’s mausoleum became a temple, the basements were converted into storage rooms.
To date, the surviving parts of the palace have been repaired and restored, and are under the protection of the country’s authorities. On the territory of the attraction there are many cafes, restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops.
An interesting fact for fans of the TV series “Game of Thrones” — a scene with dragons was filmed in the palace basements.
Useful information:
- You can see the attraction in the old part of Split around the clock.
- Walking around the palace grounds is free, going down to the cellars costs 45 kuna for adults and 25 for children, and the entrance to the cathedral costs 40 kuna.
The Palace is described in more detail in this article.
Old Town
Diocletian’s Palace is the old town of Split-a pedestrian zone that is a tangled maze of narrow streets. You can take a free walk, see unique ancient structures, and be transported back to the ancient era.
Best preserved streets:
- Cargo or Diocletian’s – runs from north to south;
- Decumanus or Kreshimirova-runs from east to west.
The northern part of the palace was intended for soldiers and servants, while the southern part was occupied by the emperor and his family, and public buildings were located.
Interesting fact! The old part of the city is decorated mainly in the Renaissance and Gothic styles. Elements of the Roman aqueduct located at the entrance to the city of Split are still preserved here.
What to see in the old part of the city:
- Brass gate located at the southern entrance.
- Cryptoportic-a gallery that runs from west to east.
- The peristyle is an inner square that has been preserved since the Roman Empire. It hosts the Split Summer Festival of theatrical art every summer.
- St. Domn’s Cathedral.
- The Temple of Jupiter is a building from the Roman Empire period, you can see the attraction for 10 kuna.
- Dominitsova Street Park is the smallest park in the city.
- Papalichi Palace – a building designed in the Gothic style, today it houses the City Museum.
- Golden Gate – the northern entrance to the old city.
- Strossmeier Park, where you can see the remains of a Benedictine convent for women.
- Iron gate – entrance to the palace grounds from the west.
- Silver Gate – entrance to the old city from the east.
Putal Winery
Even if you are not a fan of this alcoholic drink, take the time to visit this landmark in Split in Croatia. The tour is conducted by the owner, tells about the process of making wine. Guests can visit the vineyard and taste different aged wines. Bread, cheese and prsut are served with the drink.
You can book a guided tour on the official website of the winery. At the factory, you will be able to see all the stages of wine production, and after a detailed story, you will be invited to go down to the wine cellar.
Information for those who want to see the factory:
- The tour is available for groups of 2 to 18 people.
- All details about the event can be clarified directly with the owner of the winery by writing an email.
- The winery is located at Putaljska put 4, Kaštel Sućurac, Croatia.
- Website: www.winerykovacsplit.com.
Maryan Park
A park in Croatia is shrouded in legends, according to one of them, the emperor ordered to create a recreation area on the mountain for residents of the city. At that time, there were more than 10 thousand of them.
For some time, the President of Yugoslavia liked to relax in the park and even arranged a residence here. In the middle of the last century, this landmark in the city of Split was ennobled – a large number of trees were planted in the park, mainly Mediterranean pine. Today it is a favorite place of recreation for citizens.
People come here not only on weekends, but also in the evenings on weekdays. Despite the fact that the park is a favorite holiday destination for Split residents, there are not so many people here. Not all travelers know about this park, but it should definitely be included in the list of attractions.
Special features of the park area:
- climbing to the top of the mountain, you can see the whole city and the sea;
- hiking and cycling paths are available in the park;
- there are several old churches in the park;
- be sure to visit the local zoo – it’s small, but children will definitely like it;
- There are several museums in the southern part of the park area.
Useful information:
- If you have limited time, but want to see the park, rent a bike at the entrance.
- You can get to the park by bus number 12 (departs from Republic Square) or walk, the road takes about 20 minutes.
Ivan Meshtrovich Gallery
Once in Croatia, in the city of Split, Ivan Meshtrovich, a famous sculptor, founded a gallery, which is located in a picturesque palace, in the southern part of Mount Marjan.
The villa, which later became the gallery, was built between 1931 and 1939. The project of the house was prepared by its owner – Ivan Meshtrovich himself.
The boy’s creative abilities were shown in his childhood, when he lived in the small village of Otavitsy and was inspired by numerous legends, myths and fairy tales of those places. Then the boy was trained by a local stone carver and entered the Art Academy.
Famous for the master brought his first exhibition “Vienna Secession”, after the success of Meshtrovich moved to France. Every historical milestone in the sculptor’s life was reflected in his works.
Meshtrovich returned to Croatia many years later, and he bequeathed his works, as well as the estate and garden to the country. The gallery was opened in 1952, where you can see sculptures, statues, wood carvings, paintings, furniture collections. The collection also includes personal photos of the master. The gallery periodically hosts temporary exhibitions.
- You can visit the gallery at: Setaliste Ivana Mestrovica 46.
- Ticket price: full – 50 kuna, children’s, student, pension — 25.
- Tourists can view the exhibition every day except Sunday and Monday from 9-00 to 19-00.
- Website: https://mestrovic.hr/.
Split Church bell tower of St. Domn
Cathedral – the main temple in the city, where Catholics come to pray, is a complex consisting of a church built on the site of a mausoleum, and a high bell tower. The temple is named after the patron saint of the city. Saint Dyuzhe served as a bishop in the ancient city of Salona in Croatia. He and his family were tortured and killed on the emperor’s orders.
The main part of the temple was built in the 3rd century, it was an imperial mausoleum. In the 13th century, a six-sided pulpit on columns, decorated with carvings, was completed in the temple, in the 15th century the interior was supplemented with an altar, in the 18th century the choirs were completed.
The bell tower was built in 1100. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the appearance of the Roman tower did not change, then it was reconstructed, the sculptures that decorated it were dismantled. If you climb to the top of the bell tower, you can see the city and enjoy its views.
It is important! The ascent is quite difficult, so you should not take small children with you, and it is also better to refuse the tour for elderly people with poor health.
The temple is decorated with wooden doors made by a master from Croatia, Andrij Buvin. The doors depict scenes of God’s life. On the ground floor there is a treasury where the relics of the patron saint of Split and paintings, icons and other works of art are kept.
Useful information
- The church and bell tower are located at Ul. Kraj Svetog Duje 3, 21000, Split, Croatia.
- The price of a complex ticket is 40 kuna, and you can use it to visit the crypt and the baptismal chapel, where the temple of Jupiter used to be located.
- Opening hours: daily from 8-00 to 19-00.
Note: if time permits, visit the tiny but incredibly picturesque village of Omis near Split.
Promenade
The main embankment of Split is called Riva, its length is 250 meters. Cozy place with palm trees and benches. The street was reconstructed in 2007. This is a favorite place for recreation of citizens and walking tourists. Various events are held here – religious and sports, you can have a snack in cafes and restaurants.
The Riva embankment is a pedestrian alley paved with white tiles, decorated with oleanders and other plants. Boats and yachts can always be found moored on Split’s waterfront. The street starts at the fountain in Piazza Franjo Tujmana and ends at the intersection with the Lazareta Embankment.
Klis Fortress
The medieval building is built on a rock and is located a ten-minute drive from Split, Croatia. Initially, it was a small fortification, but then it turned into the residence of the monarchs of Croatia. After some time, the castle became a powerful military fortification.
The history of the fortress has more than two thousand years. During this time, the fortress structure protected the city from enemy raids, and it was reconstructed many times. Given the geographical location of the fortress, it was the main structure that protected the inhabitants of Dalmatia.
Interesting fact! From afar, it seems that the fortress merges with the rock. This is partly true, there are no smooth lines in the structure, each building is harmoniously integrated into the landscape and, as if, merges with it.
Today’s Klis Fortress has fully or partially preserved numerous decorative buildings, mainly from the Venetian and Austrian periods. The fortress itself consists of three fenced parts with separate entrances. The first or main entrance was built by the Austrians in the twenties of the nineteenth century on the same site as the old entrance of the Venetian era. The second is the medieval entrance to the fortress, which was significantly damaged during the siege of 1648. Then there is the third entrance, built in the Middle Ages. In the middle of the 18th century, the Venetians restored it several times, and the last extension was made in 1763.
Interesting fact! The fortress hosted the filming of the popular TV series “Game of Thrones”.
Photo: Split city landmark (Croatia) – Split Fortress.
Useful information
- Where to find: Trg Mejdan 10, 21231, Klis, Croatia. You can get to the fortress by bus number 22, it departs from the station located next to the National Theater. Buses No. 35 and No. 36 also run to the attraction.
- Fortress opening hours: daily from 8-30 to 22-00.
- Admission fee: for adults – 60 kuna, for children under 15 years — 20.
- Website: www.tvrdavaklis.com.
Fruit Square
Among the sights of Split in Croatia, the Fruit Square is elegant and comfortable. Previously, it was the center of a large market. Here they sold fruit, hence the name of the square. Today there are many antique shops and souvenir shops. There are several interesting sights here – the Venetian Castello, as well as towers dating back to the early 15th century. They were built to protect the city from raids. The northern part of the square is decorated with Milesi Castle in the Baroque style. There is also a statue of Marko Marulic, a Croatian poet who lived in the late 15th century. In addition to poetry, Marko was a lawyer, served as a judge.
Monument to Bishop Grgur of Nino
The statue looks massive and visually resembles an ancient Greek titan. This work of art perpetuates the memory of a priest who was able to do the impossible. He obtained permission to deliver sermons in his native Croatian language.
The monument is massive, its height is 4 meters, made of gray stone. Locals call the statue the rightful mistress and patroness of the old part of Split.
Interesting fact! There is a belief that you can touch the bishop’s left leg, make a wish, and it will definitely come true.
The attraction is located next to the Imperial Palace. During the war, the city’s residents sawed the statues and hid them safely. When the war ended, the sculpture was returned to its place.
Now you know what to see in Split and how to organize a trip in this small and cozy city. The city is hidden behind ancient walls, and from a bird’s-eye view, it seems that it is lined with a maze of streets. Split (Croatia) – attractions, cozy parks and a peaceful atmosphere are waiting for you.
