Split
Historically the Split part of Dalmatia shared the destiny of other parts of the entire region, but
its central position, and the protection its hinterland provided, ensured that its exposure to
devastation was much less than its neighbouring areas. That is why so many people live here
and why the original spirit of the Mediterranean has been so well preserved. This applies
especially to Split, the second largest Croatian city after Zagreb, and the cultural centre of
Dalmatia. Located close to Split are other large coastal towns of Central Dalmatia: Trogir and
Omiš. While extending further south is the Makarska Riviera. Lined in front of Split, one after
the other, are almost all the larger Dalmatian islands: Brač, Šolta, Čiovo, Hvar, and Vis. The
major part of the Dalmatian hinterland, with the towns of Sinj, Imotski, Vrlika, and Vrgorac, are
also oriented towards Split.
Although the whole of this wide area abounds in cultural
heritage, ranging from the prehistoric to recent times, what makes the central part of Dalmatia
so special is its well preserved heritage dating from Antiquity. Two of the most outstanding
ancient settlements of Dalmatia are located here: early Greek Issa and Roman Salona, not to
forget the greatest pearl of antiquity in Croatia - the very CENTRE OF SPLIT AND ITS
DIOCLETIAN'S PALACE.
The popular local song which tells
us that the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace in "the most beautiful part of the world,
right in the middle of Split", is not all that far from the truth. At the end of the 3rd century that
Roman emperor chose for his abode the location in a protected and tranquil bay beneath the
wooded Mount of Marjan, in front of which islands extend one after the other, and alongside
which medicinal waters still flow. The palace is almost exactly square in shape, its side walls
being about 200 metres in length, and in Diocletian's time it was actually surrounded by high
walls. The value of that location is best proven by the fact that its space has been inhabited
almost continuously from his time onwards, and that it is still the centre of life of the largest
town in Dalmatia.
The
present-day cathedral of St Domnius, patron saint of Split, built in the 7th century, is located in
Emperor Diocletian's Mausoleum, and due to this function its interior has been furnished with a
valuable sacral inventory. In front of the entrance a grand Romanesque bell tower was built in
the 12th century. Its splendid interior is still a place of worship for the faithful, and a place of
attraction for tourists. In front of the cathedral is the Peristyle where the populace once
demonstrated their loyalty to Diocletian, while today it is a popular gathering place for the
faithful and tourists alike.
Diocletian's Palace is now a venue for theatre productions, for Dalmatian klapas, and this is
also where the people of Split live their everyday lives. In its immediate vicinity are monuments
to famous Croats, such as the protector of the Croatian language, Bishop Grgur Ninski
(Gregory of Nin), and "Father of Croatian literature" Marko Marulić. One can depart the walls of
the palace through any one of four gates: the Iron Gate, Golden Gate, Silver Gate - leading
towards the Split Pjaca (the main square), or the Brass Gate, which take one through palace
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Split
cellars to the Split waterfront. It is here, by the sea, that the citizens of Split and their guests
best like to congregate.
Numerous valuable cultural monuments are also to be found beyond the palace walls. A
special place among them belongs to Prokurative, the neo-Renaissance square alongside the
western wall of the palace. This is where the annual festival of Dalmatian chansons, lauding the
love that the citizens of Split have for beautiful songs takes place. There are, of course, other
beautiful buildings and churches to be seen in Split, but also on Mount Marjan, known as the
city's green lungs.
Split is renowned for being a TOWN OF MUSEUMS, the most prestigious of these being the
Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments which contains the most precious remains of
the material and spiritual culture of Croats, particularly from the period of the early medieval
Croatian state from the 9th to the 12th century. Split is also home to the most important of the
three galleries dedicated to Ivan Meštrović, the greatest Croatian sculptor. Numerous galleries
of fine arts possess a wealth of exhibits, and the holdings of the Museum of the City of Split
include many valuable paintings.
The importance of Split as the largest coastal town in Croatia, and the third-largest passenger
port in the Mediterranean can best be seen through the wealth of exhibits in the Croatian
Maritime Museum. Its holdings include models of ships that sailed the seas from the early
Middle Ages and the days of great sailing ships, right up to modern times. The department
devoted to the navies of the 19th and 20th centuries is particularly rich, while in front of the
museum is a spacious courtyard area where original ships can be seen.
Split became the capital of Dalmatia only after W.W.I, when Zadar - then the capital temporarily came under Italian rule. The centre of Dalmatia in the times of Antiquity was
Salona, its remains being located in the immediate vicinity of Split, in what today is Solin.
ANCIENT SALONA was the metropolis of the large Roman province of Dalmatia which
encompassed an area on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea larger than contemporary
Croatia. The one-time importance of Salona is evident in the expanse of its ruins, which often
surprises visitors bearing in mind that the location is in the predominantly industrial suburb of
Split. In places the entire ground plan of individual buildings and the preserved arches of what
once were Roman palaces are still visible. But the most valuable finds from Salona are
secured in the most treasured of all museums in Split, the Archaeological Museum, which is
also the oldest Croatian museum, having been founded in 1820.
The Museum
building is adorned by a beautiful atrium, and a finely appointed interior with 150,000 different
exhibits. In addition to the finds from Salona and other Roman localities, the museum houses
numerous objects from ancient Greece and the early medieval period. Among the displays
some collections deserve special attention, like the collection of ancient sarcophagi, stone
plastic, ancient clay oil lamps and Roman glass, objects made of bone and metal, and precious
stones.
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