In the framework of building refurbishment project, the central part of the promenade of Split, the Croatian Museum of Monuments in Split spent archaeological research in the area of the southern façade of Diocletian’s Palace. Research took place in the area of so-called Gate of the city, and the former south-west tower of the Palace to the entrance to the substructure-cellars (aka Porta Aenea), the low buildings leaning on the wall of the Palace.

Riva is one of the most public places in the city of Split and valuable urban neighborhood with a bow and other functional and recreational facilities. Inseparable from it is Diocletian’s palace, as the urban core city.

Archaeological excavations have identified four main historical stages in the development of the promenade in the area south of the Palace.

The oldest, so far discovered waterfront, came from the 1st century BC and belonged to the ancient village Spalatum, situated in its vicinity. This waterfront consisted of small or large wooden pier, as well as improvised stone mulovi and lower plateau along the coast.

The first monumental quay, on the existing site, built the Roman emperor Diocletian in the end of 3rd and early 4th century. This waterfront had long coastal wall and towards the south, gently sloping platform. The wall was built in the style opus quadratum, the processed blocks of stone, originating from Roman quarries on the island of Brac. Extended to a distance of 12, 40 m from the southern front the Palace, presumably the entire length of the south-west to the South East Tower. Archaeological excavations discovered his, more or less preserved part, west of the entrance to the cellars of the Palace to the south-east tower. Plateau south of the wall was made from a type of Roman construction left, the so-called. opus caementitium, and served on the practical purpose of discharging or stretching of small boats and float. The first repairs that were followed by a plateau at the turn of late antiquity in the early Middle Ages.

As a free commune medieval town was served existing Diocletian’s harbor, where the event makeshift building interventions.

It was only in Venice, the first after Diocletian, in the period after the 1450th, and before 1600. year, approached a larger construction project in the same area of the palace, and beyond to the west building Kastela, and later building eastern Lazaret. Then build strong coastal wall towards the sea, and space according to the palace, covering by clay embankment. Venetian coast was the forerunner of later urbanization on Riva, the foundation for its next expansion to the south and west at the time of the French Marshal Marmont.

Archaeological excavations have also revealed the foundations of the southwestern tower of the Palace, demolished in the 17th century. Found the southern part of its stand in the original width of 13.5 m. It was built of massive, pravokupnih stone blocks, from the other stone rigolom at the bottom.

Archaeological excavations were conducted in a dynamic, along with extensive construction works on the waterfront. Therefore recordings Zoran Alajbeg, member research team, originally presented testimony about these uncommon events in the city under Diocletians town. Remain present and future generations as a document, but also aesthetic work of great photographer.