Split

Split, the largest city of Dalmatia, was (just like neighbouring Trogir) as the Greek colony in the 4th century BC. Roman emperor Diocletian had a palace built as a retirement residence near Salona, the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia at that time.

After the Romans abandoned the site, the Palace remained empty for several centuries, but when Salona was sacked by Avars and Slavs in the 7th century, the walled Palace of Diocletian was settled by refugees from Salona.

Since then the palace has been occupied, with residents making their homes and businesses within the palace basement and directly in its walls. Today the remains of the palace form about half the old town and city center of Split.

Since 1979 the historic center of Split is included into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Over centuries Split was under either Venetian or Ottoman influence. The Congress of Vienna allocated the city to the Empire of Austria. During the 19th century a lot of investments were done and elegant buildings were erected inside the old town.