DIOCLETIAN PALACE
Step into the historical tale of the city of Split. Let our experienced official tour guide take You back in time when the powerful Roman emperor Diocletian lived and built his palace. In an hour-long tour, you will see the most famous and important landmarks that the 1700 years of history within the UNESCO-listed historical complex has to offer. Our agency is situated right in front of the Diocletian’s palace so it is the meeting point and the beginning of the tour. First, you will be given some general facts about the history and then pass through the Golden gate and enter the palace. Once inside, you will have the feeling of being in a maze thanks to the small and narrow alleys. They were built that way to shield the local people from the strong wind called Bura, which blows here during the winter months. While walking you will see the magnificent Peristil emerging from the streets. That used to be the main square of the palace where the emperor would show himself to his people at noon every day. Nowadays, during the summer month of August, the emperor shows himself again as part of the event “Days of Diocletian”. Next to Peristil, there is the church dedicated to the Exaltation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but among the people it is known as the Saint Domnius (Sveti Dujam) cathedral, a symbol of Split. We can say that it is the oldest cathedral in the world, because it has the oldest building where mass is still held. Namely, it used to be the mausoleum of the emperor, but in the 7th century it was turned into a church. Right next to the St. Domnius bell tower, there is a Sphinx brought there from Egypt. It is 3500 years old. We recommend climbing to the top of the bell tower and experience a 360 degree view of Split. Jupiter's temple is located nearby. After a short walk through the Diocletian’s cellars you will find yourself on the main promenade and the modern center of the city - Riva.
