The historic Split, Croatia is a treasure trove of history all in a compact area that’s easy to see in a day. Just a block over from the beautiful waterfront, you can easily explore afoot the World Heritage Site created from the Roman Emperor Diocletian. I enjoyed my day here and love sharing tips. So, read on to discover how to plan for Split Croatia tour highlights in one day.
Lying on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, Split is the second largest city in Croatia. It was founded as a Greek colony in the 3rd-century BC. Formerly known as Spalato, it became the location for the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Later, the Byzantines and Venetians ruled the city before it became part of Yugoslavia and Croatia. Split is located on a peninsula between the eastern part of the Gulf of Kastela and the Split Channel.
Split Croatian Tour Highlights
of Old Town
Riva Promenade
Stretched out along the harbor of Split east of the city is the Riva Promenade. This is a wonderful place to stroll along the palm-lined waterfront on the Adriatic Sea. The area offers benches, gardens and alfresco restaurants to enjoy the refreshing sea air.
Diocletian’s Palace
Built in 305 AD, the Roman Emperor Diocletian resided in this ornate retirement complex in the center of Split’s Old Town. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes the Peristyle (center) and Cardo, a main street through the palace. Also, the Game of Thrones filmed in the cellar of the palace. This is where Daenerys kept her dragons.
St. Domnius Cathedral
Located within Diocletian’s Palace is the St. Domnius Cathedral. It’s the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world built in 7th century AD.
The bell tower of the cathedral stands at 57 m high, as a symbol of Split. It is an example of medieval Dalmatian architecture. Visitors can climb the steep stairs to the top for panoramic views of the city.
The cathedral was once Emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum. It houses baroque altars and artworks along with the sarcophagus that once contained Diocletian’s remains.
Crypt of St. Lucy
Beneath the cathedral and south of the bell tower is the Crypt of St. Lucy, a Christian martyr. In the central niche stands a small altar and statue of St. Lucy. During Feast Day on December 13, many followers make a pilgrimage here to honor St. Lucy.
Treasury of Split Cathedral
The Treasury of Split Cathedral houses some of the most incredible collections of ecclesiastical art in Croatia. Overall, it showcases artworks, such as, paintings, statues of saints, icons, precious books and stone monuments.
Baptistery of St. John
West of the bell tower through a narrow alleyway is the Baptistery of St. John. Originally, it was the Temple of Jupiter, because Diocletian believed he was the son of this God.
Baptism is the primary sacrament for the Christian faith. The ritual baptizes children into the religion of their parents. Inside is an altar and statue of the Roman God, Jupiter.
Let Me Pass Street
The Let Me Pass Street is a narrow street located alongside the Baptistery of St. John.
It is claimed to be the narrowest street in the world. With a width of about a meter in some places, the street is just a few meters long.
Old Town
The Old Town of Split is the maze of streets and cobblestoned lanes that surround Diocletian’s Palace. People’s Square (Narodni Trg) is the heart of the Old Town. Cafes and restaurants spill out into the square and one of the highlights of a visit here is gazing up at the old town clock.
Split’s palace is surrounded by stone walls with 4 entrances. The golden gate faces north and was the entrance for the emperor. The Bronze Gate faces south, Iron Gate faces west and the Silver Gate faces east.
Bishop Gregory of Nin Statue
Just outside the Golden Gate is the tall statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin. Gregory stood up to the Roman Pope, who demanded religious services be in Latin. However, Gregory introduced the Croatian language to being used for services.
It is believed that you receive good luck by rubbing his toe of the statue.
Enjoy Split!
The historic town of Split is such a historic gem. And the great thing is most of the sites are close together in the Old Town. So, you can explore afoot in one day. If your travels bring you to Split, please share any tips below in the comments.
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