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Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian

Split · Croatia

Background

World Heritage since
1979
Type of site
Cultural
Palace built
c. AD 295–305

The palace the Roman emperor Diocletian built for his retirement around AD 295–305, which grew into the old town of Split. About half of it was for the emperor, the rest for his garrison. Today some 3,000 people live inside.

The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages from the materials of Diocletian's mausoleum. Romanesque churches, medieval walls and Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque palaces fill the rest of the protected area.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. c. 295Building of the palace begins
  2. 305Diocletian retires here
  3. Middle AgesMausoleum becomes the cathedral
  4. 1979Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Peristyle
    The palace's columned central square.
  2. 2
    Substructure Halls
    The cellars under the palace, with more opened each year.
  3. 3
    Cathedral of St Domnius
    Diocletian's mausoleum turned cathedral, with its bell tower.
  4. 4
    Temple of Jupiter
    The palace temple.
  5. 5
    The Four Gates
    The Golden, Silver, Iron and Bronze Gates.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Free to Wander
The old town is open; you pay for the cellars, cathedral and bell tower.
Start Early
The GoGo guide starts at the Peristyle at 8:30am.
Allow 2 to 3 Hours
For the palace, cellars, cathedral and temple.

A Day in the Palace

From the GoGo Split guide · Open the Split Guide ›

  1. 08:30
    Peristyle and the Cellars45 min
    The columned square and the halls below.
  2. 09:30
    Cathedral of St Domnius and Bell Tower45 min
    The emperor's mausoleum turned cathedral.
  3. 10:30
    Temple of Jupiter30 min
    The palace temple.
  4. 14:00
    Riva Promenade1 hr
    The waterfront below the palace walls.
  5. 15:15
    Peristil to Narodni Trg Lanes45 min
    The narrow lanes of the old town.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Nov (126 mm), driest Jul (29 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Trogir, another World Heritage town, is 15 km west, and Šibenik's cathedral about 50 km. The Stari Grad Plain is 40 km away.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 97 · Wikipedia: Diocletian's Palace · Wikivoyage: Split (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Split guide · UNESCO listing