Top 10 Sights in Split, Croatia

Split is the second-largest city of Croatia and the largest city of the region of Dalmatia so it’s no wonder there are so many things to do and see there. Its modern side mixes very well with the ancient history of the city, but I will admit, the ancient parts of the city are what drew me to it in the first place, so I didn’t get to see the more modern parts as much. But what I did see, I absolutely loved, so picking a top 10 isn’t going to be easy -- but I’ll try. Let’s go!

1. Palace of Diocletian. This palace is one of the largest and best-preserved palaces from the Roman world. It was built in 305 A.D. for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. This massive complex, intended for his retirement, (about 30,000 square meters) sits in the center of the Old Town of Split and over the centuries, the city of Split has grown up around Diocletian’s Palace. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and after walking around, I understand why. It really is an impressive site to behold.

Just a little background on this emperor: He was not a kind-hearted ruler and literally killed his way to becoming emperor. Once in power, he declared himself immortal and claimed to be the son of Jupiter and as such, made a temple for himself. He killed many people, mostly Christians, over the course of his lifetime (this will be relevant later).

So what exactly preserved parts of this palace so well over the thousands of years? The answer was found in the 1950s when a level of the palace (that had previously been closed off) was discovered. So apparently, in ancient times this particular level was where the palace’s “toilet waste” was discarded. Well, over the years, this trapped material acted as a preservative. As a result, 85% of these walls are original – from 305 A.D. and preserved by, well you know now. The intricate mosaic floor is also original.

Emperor Diocletian took 13 sphinxes from Egypt to decorate the palace. The one pictured is one next to the cathedral. The arch above is literally stapled together – can you imagine that? This appears to be holding strong after all these years though so I can’t really knock it I guess.

2. See the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. This is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world and is named after the City’s patron saint. The main part of the cathedral was originally Emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum … remember I told you he persecuted Christians and that fact would be relevant later? A little ironic wouldn’t you say? On the first floor of the sacristy is the cathedral treasury, which contains relics of Saint Domnius and art pieces/objects from the 11th – 19th centuries. It’s definitely a beautiful cathedral to say the least.

3. Climb or visit the tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. The bell tower was constructed in the Romanesque style 500 years ago by the same architect who designed the Leaning Tower of Pisa – yes, you are not seeing things – the same thing is happening here too! For a great view of the city, climb to the top (if you dare). This tower is considered to be the second section of the cathedral due to its architectural date.

4. Walk around Old Town. The Old Town of Split is the maze of streets and cobblestoned lanes that surround Diocletian’s Palace. It will sometimes be difficult to tell if you are still within the palace or in Old Town but don’t get boggled in detail and just enjoy the blend. Streets are now inhabited with residents (many have Christian ancestors who were killed by the Emperor) and now live in apartments that were once part of the Palace. Two blocks are actually constructed of ancient toilet waste – and some homes are leaning because of this ancient “construction material”!

The modern shops and stores are even constructed around original Roman walls and floors. People’s Square (Narodni Trg) is the heart of the Old Town. You will find cafes and restaurants here all with tasty food.

5. Rub the Bishop’s toe for luck. Just outside the Golden Gate of the Palace is the monument to Bishop Grgur Ninski. He played a critical role to Croatia as he introduced the national Croatian language into Catholic services in AD 926, finally making it possible for everyone to know what was being said. Prior to that, services were only in Latin, which few people understood. As a result, Christianity grew stronger within the Croatian kingdom. Locals and tourists have been rubbing his toe for so long that it is now the smoothest and shiniest part of the statue! Did I rub his toe? Of course, I did!

6.Walk around the Riva Promenade. The Riva is the harbor of Split and is covered with palm trees, colorful buildings, and beautiful views out to the Adriatic Sea. This portion is definitely the more modern part of town with many cafes and restaurants. It’s also an ideal place to people watch if you like that sort of thing. It is modern yet sits just outside the ancient palace!

7. Visit the Church of St. Francis and Monastery (Sv. France). This church, located just west of the above-mentioned Riva sea front, was originally founded in the 13th century by the Franciscans and built on top of a 5th century early Christian church. The entire complex has undergone various reconstructions and restorations throughout the centuries. Numerous baroque paintings and statues decorate the inside of the church and there are also numerous ancient tombs of prominent citizens of Split found in the monastery right next to the church.

8. Ride the Split City Tour Cart to sightsee. Okay I didn’t do this but it looked like a great option if your feet were tired after a long day of already walking around!

9. Visit the town of Trogir. It is one of the oldest towns in Croatia and only about 30 minutes away from Split by car or bus and also reachable by ferry. This is a gorgeous, tiny town to visit and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town part is an island with a bridge connecting to the mainland. We toured the town in a few hours (but did walk rather quickly) and really wish we had more time to explore. Preserved tiny streets and harborside cafes make it ideal for walking or just relaxing. The highlight for me was the Cathedral of St. Lawrence which dominates the main square.

Construction started on the church in 1193 but it took decades and dozens of artists to complete. The main entrance door to the church was carved in 1240 is of Romanesque style and is glorious -- the detail is absolutely amazing. Do take time to go inside as there are sculptures, and treasury pieces paintings inside that date back to the 13th through the 17th centuries. You may climb to the top of the bell tower to get a nice view of the city as well. I wish we had a full day to see much more of the town, but I guess we’ll have to wait until next time.

10. See the Fortress Kamerlengo. Since you are in Trogir already and saw the island’s beautiful cathedral, go ahead and take a quick look at The Kula fortress of Kamerlengo (Fortress Sv. Marko) located on the southwest part of the island. It was built in the mid-15th century following the Venetian conquest of the town. There are four towers at its angles – the oldest and tallest was built earlier in the 14th century. Tourists can also climb to the top of this tower and enjoy the incredible view of the city and landscape.

These were our last few days on the Dalmatia Coast and the Adriatic Sea and they could not have been any better. I was surprised at the incredible history we found in Split. The quaint town and wonderful architecture we found in Trogir was such a pleasant surprise as well. After being on the coast and visiting Dubrovnik and Split, we headed inland to visit Croatia’s oldest and largest national park – stay tuned next week for that experience.

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