City of Split

For 17 centuries, the story of Split has been told, ever since the Roman emperor Diocletian decided to build a palace on the peninsula near the great Roman city of Salona where he would spend the last years of his life in peace. In those 1700 years, the Palace was slowly built and became a part of the city, which today atracks visitors with its rich tradition, magnificent history, beauty of natural and cultural heritage.

Diocletian's Palace and the entire historic center of Split are on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979, not only because of the outstanding preservation of the Palace itself, but also because the Palace and its city (or the city and its Palace, whichever you prefer) still live a full life. All historical layers from ancient Rome, through the Middle Ages to today are visible in this structure. Walking through the ancient city, it is possible to travel through time, observe top examples of ancient architecture such as the Peristil, medieval Romanesque churches and Gothic palaces, Renaissance portals of noble houses, baroque facades, all the way to modern architecture superbly integrated into the rich heritage.

Such complexity is also reflected in the daily life of Split. Local residents sit in the same cafes, and restaurants and shop in the same stores with tourists, giving them the impression that they have become an integral part of the city and its rhythm by coming to Split. The market and fish market in the center are the life of every Split family, just as the whole social life of the city with its 200,000 inhabitants is reflected on its Riva, where every guest who cares about himself will have a coffee sitting next to noisy, temperamental Split residents.

Split is much more than a magnificent architectural backdrop. It is a city where you can enjoy top-notch gastronomy and wines, find numerous cultural events such as film and theater festivals, exhibitions, excellent museums and concerts, a city that offers entertainment from numerous clubs and bars, street events to festivals like Ultra Europe, which is visited by up to 100,000 young people from hundreds of countries every year. Split, with its dozens of Olympic and other medalists, also has a sports tradition like few other cities of its size in the world.

When you get tired of the city hustle and bustle, there is Marjan, the hill that is a symbol of the city, with its forest, running, hiking and cycling paths, recreational fields, but also ancient churches where old Split residents sought spiritual peace. There are also beaches, unusually numerous and clean for a city the size of Split, from the famous sandy Bačvice to the rocky secluded oases around Marjan.

After all this, is it any wonder that Split residents love to describe their city with the words "There is no Split like Split"?