3
DAYS
Ancient Dalmatia is best represented in the ruins of the ancient city of Salona
and the historic old town of Split. And that is exactly what this programme
offers – a journey through time and space in Split and the surrounding
area with experienced archaeologists and historians of the Archaeological
Museum of Split.
From the rustic fortress on the cliff that overlooks the romantic remains
of the ancient Salona surrounded with the indigenous Mediterranean
plants, to unique museums and palaces captured in the urban fabric of the
medieval city, we will pass through more than two millennia of life fraught with
difficulties which we have inherited from this region.
SPLIT REGION CLASSICAL TOUR
archaeological weekend tour
Klis, Salona, Split
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL:
April, May, June, September, October, November
NUMBER OF DAYS: 3 days / 2 nights
PLACE OF DEPARTURE: Split / Optional: arrival at another airport
TOUR PACE: from medium to hard
MIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 2 persons
MAX NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 16 people
ITINERARY
DAY 2 – THE ANCIENT CITY OF SALONA
DAY 1 – KLIS FORTRESS
Welcome! After your arrival and organised transfer we will depart for Klis fortress which
commands a panoramic view of the entire Split area and the neighbouring islands. This is one of
the most convenient places for becoming acquainted with the destination and the programme
for the following days.
Apart from the historical context of the destination, we will, of course, have a tour of the
fortress. Transfer to accommodation and a welcome drink. The rest of the day is free. Dinner and
overnight stay.
After breakfast, we will leave for a full-day visit to the archaeological site of the ancient Salona
with experts (archaeologists, restorers...). We will start with a tour of the theatre and the forum,
after which we will visit the amphitheatre from the 2nd century located in the northwest corner
of the former city which covered more than 74 hectares. We will continue our tour through the
early Christian site of Kapljuc, onto Porta Cesarea, the Episcopal complex and the Roman baths.
We will have lunch in the Tusculum garden with several ancient Roman dishes, and
taste olive oil whose production is evidenced by the remains of numerous presses.
After lunch we will visit the most interesting part of Salona - Manastirine, the
greatest early Christian cemetery under the open sky (“sub divo”). We will finish our
sightseeing tour at Marusinac, from which we will head towards the Archaeological
Museum of Split and round up the today’s tour with the Salonitan movable
heritage. Within its eight collections, the Archaeological Museum offers more than 150 000
archaeological artefacts. The most important among them is a collection of stone
inscriptions from Salona (approx. 6000). The day will end with a small workshop at the
museum in which we will make unique souvenirs from epigraphic inscriptions. This
will announce a new story which will introduce us into the next day – the story of the
charismatic emperor Diocletian, his palace and the city of Split.
Return to accommodation. Dinner. Overnight stay.
DAY 3 – SPLIT
After breakfast we will drive into the city of Split, whose historic center harbours the culmination of this three-day
experience: the Diocletian’s Palace, a unique World Heritage monument. For starters, not far from the main entrance
into the palace you will have the opportunity to feel the weight of the uniforms of Roman legionnaires in the Live
History Museum. This experience will certainly open your eyes a little better before you enter this truly unique
building unlike any other in the world. From the “Porta Praetoria”, or the Golden Gate, we will walk down the ancient Cardo
until we reach the crossroads with the Decumanus, and step onto the ancient square - Peristyle. Through the Protyron and the
Vestibule to the remains of the Emperor’s private chambers and the Triclinium, we will slowly reach the time for lunch in one of
the city’s authentic restaurants. After lunch we will visit the impressive imperial mausoleum - the Cathedral of St. Domnius and a
small temple. We will stop once more at the site of the Temple of Venus to enjoy coffee and prosecco along with the “Diocletian’s
Wreath”, imperial cake made exclusively from local ingredients.
Walking around the old stone streets, we will also have the opportunity to see the Medieval Split blended with the architecture
of the Late Antiquity, and by walking along the People’s Square, the waterfront and the Prokurative Square, for a moment we will
feel like natives of Split... Before your departure, you can take some free time to enjoy.
INTERESTING FACTS
DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE
Diocletian’s palace, the ancient imperial palace of the emperor Diocletian in the city of Split,
was built around the year 300 AD. It was erected by Diocletian to serve as his residential villa
after his retirement, in which he lived after his abdication which took place in the year 305
AD. In terms of its composition, Diocletian’s palace contains elements of an imperial villa,
a Hellenistic town and a fortified military camp (castrum).
Today it is integrated into the historic old town of Split, and as such it is a remarkable example
of one of the most significant works of architecture of the Late Antiquity blended with the
architectural styles from the Pre-Romanesque period onwards.
STORY OF DIOCLETAN’S WREATH
According to a legend, while the galleys of the Roman emperor Diocletian, born in the ancient
Salona, were passing the “Split Gate” on his returning to his homeland in the 5th month of
an unknown year in the 3rd century, his attention was drawn to the yellow colour of the
coastline covered with grassy Spanish broom. It was the Spanish broom, along with all the
other natural beauties he encountered, that supposedly made him build a summer residence
in that place!
In our story, his rectangular palace is symbol¬ized by a golden box, and the Emperor is
symbolized by his wreath made of dried figs, carob, almonds, olive oil and honey,
braided with laurel. Galleons full of oil and all its benefits bring him to the shore – the
“Kajina’s hat” cake with dried petals of Spanish broom, roses and basil. Traditional ravioli with
figs, almonds and carob are his imperial guard, and honey hearts are a symbol of his
devotion to the homeland. The whole story is based on “Mažica” (Dalmatian bag for olives,
potatoes...), the symbol of the little man, the “subject”. The patented ingredients of the
Diocletian’s Wreath are a combination of the ways in which desserts were prepared in
antiquity and the traditional Dalmatian methods!
SALONA
Salona, the ancient metropolis of the Roman province of Illyricum, and later the province of
Dalmatia, is located in the central part of the eastern Adriatic coast, at the mouth of the river
Jadro, whose name was Salon back in the day.
It suddenly flourished in the 1st century AD, during the period known as the Pax
Romana, when numerous centres of public, cultural and religious life were founded through
urbanism and extensive construction activity. It was abandoned in the Migration Period as the
inhabitants escaped from the Avars and Slavs to the nearby islands and inside the
Diocletian’s palace, which was the origin of the present-day city of Split.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
PRICE FROM:
520 €
The price shown is approximate and based on a
group of 16 people with accommodation in studio
apartment, and includes everything which was listed
under “Program includes”. The Agency reserves the right
to change prices depending on a specific query, and
special needs or interests of clients.
Single supplement: € 80 per person.
PRICE INCLUDES:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Accommodation in an apartment/ B & B/ hotel on a half board basis (3 days / 2 nights)
Transfer from and to the airport
Transportation according to program
Private tour leader / Ventula Travel DMC guide throughout the stay
Tickets to the Archaeological Museum and Split, Klis and Salona
Lunch at the ancient Salona with a tasting of olive oil
Workshop for making souvenirs in technique of cashing with museum experts
Tickets for the Diocletian’s cellars, Cathedral of St. Domnius, Temple of Jupiter
Lunch in Split
Coffe and Prosecco break
Tasting of “Diocletian’s crown”
VAT
TRIP TERMS & CONDITIONS
The travel arrangement and full-day will be officially booked once we have received
a 50% deposit payment.
We accept bank transfer and credit card payment through our secure
payment service for Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Diners credit cards.
The customer can cancel the travel arrangement and full-day or half-day tour at any
moment; however, Ventula Travel DMC travel agency shall keep a certain portion
of the paid amount which will depend on the cancellation period, and which is
specified as follows:
•
arrangement or tour, and no less than 15,00 € *
•
•
Additional health insurance and travel cancellation (recommended)
•
Airline tickets
•
Personal expenses of guests and what is not mentioned under “program includes”
29 to 22 days prior to departure – 30 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
•
21 to 15 days prior to departure – 40 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
•
14 to 8 days prior to departure – 80 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
•
7 to 0 days prior to departure – 100 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
•
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
30 or more days prior to departure – 10 % of the price of a travel after the departure or no-show – 100 % of the price of a travel
arrangement or tour.
* According to the selling exchange rates on the day of the payment
Ventula Travel DMC
Travel agency
Ventula Travel d.o.o.
Gradišćanskih Hrvata 14
HR - 21000 Split
Croa a
OIB: 35517220966
MB: 4496922
ID: HR-AB-21-060340772
Phone: +385 21 77 11 48
Fax: +385 21 77 11 48
GSM: +385 98 436 041
E-mail: [email protected]
Web page: www.ventula-travel.com
www.croatian-travel.com
Bank informa on: Privredna banka Zagreb d.d.
Radnička cesta 50, 10000 Zagreb
SWIFT: PBZGHR2X
IBAN: HR79 2340 0091 1107 6996 0
MBS: 060340772, Commercial Court in Split
Founding Capital: 20.000 HRK - paid in full
Member of the Board: Robert Bralić