Split - Diocletian's Palace

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 the 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.

In 1979 the historic center of Split was included into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Beneath the palace are large cellars. Due to the immense downpour, the lower parts and subterranean tunnels were already flooded, when I entered. The higher parts house a kind of bazaar for the tourists. But when the gully turned into a fountain I left the cellars pretty fast.