The origin of Split is the Diocletian Palace itself, which has been adapted both as a residential quarter to accommodate local citizens throughout the centuries, and for some other civil functions. The first civil residents of the Palace were the inhabitants of Salona who had fled from Salona in the early 7th century, threatened by the invasion of the Slavs. Some of them found shelter in the imperial palace and some of them sailed to the nearby islands. The edifices of the Palace have been constantly transformed to the new functions: the Emperor’s Mausoleum has become the Cathedral, and the Peristyle, the central part of the Palace, has become the main public square, the center of various civil, religious, public and administrative activities. The new city has been formed in a unique historical and architectural setting.
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Porta Occidentalis is its Roman name. Through the Iron Gate, life of the 17th century was passed by each day. Ever since it was opened it bears witness to Illyrian, Greek, Roman and also Avar, Slav, Turkish. Italian, French and other groups, until today when the sound of the renaissance clock tower marks the passage of home-grown Croatian genes.

It’s a pity that during the 5th century AD Christians forcibly removed the statue of Nike, pagan goddess of victory, and placed it with the religious symbol of the cross in its place. In the 11th century a church “Gospa od Zvonika” was built, originally dedicated to St. Theodore, with a beautiful early-Romanesque bell tower.
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The first extension of the city was being built along the western walls of the Palace in 10th and 11th century. So, the West Gate (called Iron Gate) provided the link between the two parts of the city. On the other hand, the North Gate ceased to be in the function long ago, and it was blocked with a wall. The new extended zone was being surrounded by new defensive walls in 14th century, as well as in the following centuries,and two new gates were added – The Butchers’ Gate, to the west, and The Sea Gate, to the south.
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The Eastern Gate of Diocletian’s Palace (so called Silver Gate) was dedicated to St. Apollinaire, a saint worshipped all over the Mediterranean world during the Early Christian period. The same as there had already been done above the northern and the western gate of Diocletian’s Palace, the sentry corridor above this gate was also transformed into the church, probably in 6th century, so that the patron saint could protect the entrance to the city by his supernatural power. The wall structure and the gate itself were incorporated in the structure of other edifices in the course of the following centuries. Such is an example of the Church of Saints-innocents (“Dusice”) which was demolished during the W.W.2.
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The stages showing how the area along the northern façade of the Palace was being developed from 4th to 19th century (made by J.Marasovic)

The northern gate of the Palace (called the Golden Gate) had been conceived as the main entrance to the Palace and so it had been elaborately decorated with statues of the Emperor Diocletian and his co-regent Maximilian, in the upper row of the niches, and with sculpture of an eagle a symbol of Jupiter, between the two.There were the statues of their two successors to the throne – caesars Galerius and Constantine – in the lower row of the niches.
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Split Ethnographic Museum has reconstructed the Renaissance terrace on the vestibule.

Circular vestibule of the aisle, interior doors, the Peristyle. Reconstructed Roman staircase leading to the reconstructed Renaissance terrace family Natalis-Bozicevic, located on the southern edge of the former arch vestibule.

Museum visitors can tour the displays and temporary exhibitions can go with an updated, original staircase and step on a single roof vestibule. From the top of the vestibule there is a unique view on the roof, tower, harbor.
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Poljud is a football stadium in the Croatian city of Split. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Poljud, its original name is “Gradski stadion u Poljudu” (“City Stadium in Poljud”). It is the home of HNK Hajduk Split, one of the top football teams in the country. The stadium currently has a capacity of 35,000.

The nominal capacity was 55,000 when it was built. The stadium was built as major sports centre for the 1979 Mediterranean Games and opened by Josip Broz Tito.

Poljud Stadium was also venue for 1990 European Championships in athletics.
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Just outside the Golden Gate on the northern side of the palace, is this giant statue of Bishop Grgur Ninski (which means, “the Grgur of Nin) made in 1929 by Ivan Mestrovic. That year marked the 1000th anniversary of the bishop’s fight to give the people of Nin the right to use their own language in liturgy instead of Latin. He made these demands in Split as well, but was opposed by local church officials. As you’ll see in my local customs tip, it’s a tradition to rub the statue’s toe for good luck.

The monumental sculpture of the bishop that reads the Bible facing the northern walls of the Diocletian’s palace presents Grgur, the bishop of Nin. The sculpture was made by Ivan Mestrovic in 1929 and originally stood in the center of Peristyle untill 1954.
Grgur Ninski was 10th century bishop that strongly opposed the Pope and official circles of the Church and introduced the Croatian language in the religious services after the Great Assembly in 926. Until that time, services were held only in Latin, not being understandable to the majority of the population. Not only that this was important for Croatian language and culture but it also made the religion stronger within the Croatian nation.
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The best starting point for sightseeing is Marmontova Street in which you can find numerous prestigious shops with clothes and cosmetics and coffee shops. This street leads you towards the sea where you can enjoy the view of the sea and the palms, relax in some of the cafes or walk and observe the facade of the Palace.

On the opposite side of the Old Town (western), you’ll find this long, always busy street lined with all kinds of shops and a smattering of restaurants and cafes. It runs from the Riva (waterfront) up to Trg Gaje F. Bulata where there is a mall, a theater and the Croatian National Theater.
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Near Marmontova Street there is Trg Republike (square), know as Prokurative where every summer Split festival takes places as well as numerous concerts during the year. 200 years ago, there was a wonderful park built during the dominance of French government. It was planned to build there a national theatre, but the idea was never realized.

Republic Square or popular Split Prokurative is a unique architectonic space, protected as a historical and monumental whole. At the beginning of July, for many years, one of the most popular festivals of Croatian pop music takes place on this square. From its beginnings, 50 years ago, till today Prokurative has welcomed some of the greatest names of Croatian and international music scene.
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