Split, Croatia - Walk Within Historical Walls
By Lilliam & Larry Larsen
As soon as you arrive in Croatia's second largest city Split, you get an immediate sense of the
history, culture and the love that the local people have for their city. Split is an amazing
seaport with its Old Town and the famous Diocletian's Palace facing the palm tree-lined cruise ship harbor. The 1,700-year-old harbor and the walled
palace are very well maintained and are easily the most popular shore excursions for many of the one-day port visits by cruise ships. This impressive city of medieval
construction is an up and coming attraction for many cruise ships traveling in and around the Adriatic Sea between Italian and Greece destinations
Diocletian was a 4th Century AD Roman Emperor who built the palace as his retirement home. Called a palace, the facility is
actually a fort with massive walls, towers and a few streets. It is very well maintained and is one
of the most complete architectural and cultural examples of ancient Roman architecture on the Croatian coast. Over its history, Split has been under Roman, Venetian, Austrian, French, Italian
and Yugoslavian control, and many of those influences are also obvious in the collection of old churches and temples found within the walls.
While most visitors can easily take a self-guided tour, we recommend hiring a local guide in order to really explore this vast
conglomeration of buildings, halls, streets and religious temples. You will find free maps are available nearly everywhere as soon as you step off the cruise ship,
however, a guide can help you save time and give you some very interesting historical information that may not be immediately evident.
Amazingly, people still live within the walls of this fortified palace and many
of the old apartments have been fully renovated. More popular than cruise visitors are those who
come to Split to stay several days and enjoy the famous nearby island beaches, therefore, many residents within the walls have put their apartments up for rent during the
busiest months of the tourist season. Among the highlights of any city walking tour is the Ethnographic Museum, which displays current excavations not yet completed. Early
Roman mosaic floors and the palace cellars are definitely unique as well.
For the active visitor, bicycling is a popular means of transportation around the Old Town and along the seafront promenade and streets.
Outdoor lovers will enjoy boating along the Cetina River or a visit to nearby Trogir Island. There is also the "Riviera of the Seven Castles" that many sightseers should enjoy on the
way to Trogir. Time permitting, check out all the possibilities that Split has to offer.
For more information on Split Croatia, visit http://www.visitsplit.com/en/1/city-of-split-croatian-tourism-champion and the
Croatia National Tourist Board at http://croatia.hr/en-GB/Homepage.
|