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.

The sculpture of Grgur Ninski is so popular that you’ll find smaller versions of it in squares in Nin and Varazdin as well. None of them is as monumental and big in scale as the original from Split.

The bronze on Grgur’s toe is worn down since the local legend says it that you have to touch his toe each time you pass by if you want good luck and if you want your wishes to come true.
This is not the place to test your Destiny, trust me, just go there and touch his toe!

The huge statue of archbishop Grgur Ninski stands outside the northern walls of the palace, right in front of the Bronze Gate.
According to the local legend, each time one passes by the giant statue of Grgur Ninski, and touch his thumb it brings the luck.
Many local students do so before their exams.
Last and not of less importance, the statue is work of Ivan Mestrovic, the greatest and wide world famous Croatian sculptor.