Split, Croatia

Exploring Split Beyond Diocletian’s Palace

A City of Enchanting Diversity

Welcome to Split, a city that amazes visitors with its enchanting mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. While Diocletian’s Palace stands as the crown jewel, there’s so much more to discover beyond its ancient walls. Get ready for all the hidden treasures that make Split a must-visit destination.

Wander the Charming Streets

As you venture beyond the palace, be prepared to wander through Split’s charming little streets lined with historic and modern buildings. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of Varoš or just enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Riva promenade.

Vibrant Markets and Local Spots

Step into the heart of local life by visiting Split’s vibrant markets. The Green Market offers an array of fresh produce and local delicacies, while the Fish Market provides a glimpse into the city’s maritime heritage. To experience true spirit of Split and Dalmatia, discover many hidden cafes and taverns in narrow streets, where you can savor traditional Dalmatian cuisine and mingle with friendly locals. 

Relax on Beautiful Beaches

Split’s stunning coastline attracts beach lovers to enjoy the Mediterranean sun. Head to Bačvice Beach for a fun-filled day of sandy shores and refreshing swims. For a quieter escape, seek out the secluded beaches of Marjan Hill, like Kašjuni or Bene beaches.

Time Travel in Historical Landmarks

Beyond Diocletian’s Palace, Split boasts a plethora of historical landmarks waiting to be explored. Admire the impressive Cathedral of St. Domnius, climb the Bell Tower for breathtaking views, and discover the ancient Peristyle Square. Each monument offers a glimpse into different chapters of Split’s rich history. If you would like to experience Split in an unique way, don’t miss out on visiting Diocletians Dream, a VR museum that will let you experience Diocletian’s Palace as it was in 305 AD. 

Embrace Nature in Marjan Hill

Escape the urban bustle and find peace in the Marjan Hill. This natural park is a haven for hikers, joggers, and nature enthusiasts. Follow the scenic trails to reach hilltop viewpoints, ancient chapels, and hidden coves. It’s a perfect spot for relaxation and connecting with nature.

Local Culture and Art

Explore the local arts scene by visiting Split’s museums and galleries. The Meštrović Gallery displays the works of Croatia’s renowned sculptor Ivan Meštrović, while the Split City Museum offers insights into the city’s rich history.

Day Trips to Nearby Islands

No visit to Split would be complete without exploring the stunning nearby islands. Take a ferry to Hvar, Brač, or Vis, and discover their unique charm and landscapes. From sandy beaches to beautiful vineyards, these islands promise an unforgettable getaway. 

Hvar Island, Croatia

Dusk in Diocletian’s City

As the sun sets over Diocletian’s Palace, the city transforms into a vibrant night scene. Enjoy live music at the open-air bars, enjoy the nightlife, and witness the palace’s beauty under the moonlight. The magic of Split continues long after the day’s adventures.

Riva in Split, Croatia

The Spirit of Split

Beyond Diocletian’s Palace lies a city full of diversity and enchantment. Split’s charming streets, vibrant markets, beautiful beaches, and historical landmarks provide a lot of unforgettable experiences. From discovering local culture to connecting with nature, there’s something for everyone in this Croatian gem.

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Learning from the Past: Why Visit Museums?

The history of humanity is what museums and galleries primarily shed light on. And even though no museum can give us the whole picture, there are many lessons we can learn from the past by visiting them.

There are many reasons why we should include visiting museums on the list of activities when visiting a new city or a new country, and today, we are writing you about some of the reasons as well as some of the most interesting museums in Croatia.

Museums collect and display significant cultural, artistic, historical, or scientific artifacts. Simply put, museums help to educate, inspire, and connect people.

Education

Museums educate visitors through informal learning, which is an unstructured and spontaneous educational experience. This type of learning happens all the time.

Interacting with museum exhibits and information is a fun and engaging way for both children and adults to participate in an informal educational experience to learn more about a place’s culture, tradition, or history.

In the future, museums and other cultural institutions will continue to play an important role in the education of future generations. Institutions around the world are doing their part to pass down knowledge, from creating exhibitions for children to teaching children in a quasi-classroom setting.

Inspiration

Museums evoke existential reactions only available through witnessing something extraordinary, from the awe-inspiring to the surprising.

Inspiring experiences frequently motivate people to take action in their lives and do something creative or meaningful. Reading books, watching movies, and visiting museums are all excellent ways to be inspired. However, none of these can help communities connect as well as museums.

Connections

Many museum visitors say their main reason for going is to spend time with family or friends. Museums, on the other hand, bring together more than just friends and family. Museums across the country are transforming into community gathering places by hosting concerts, conferences, and other events.

Technology and Innovation

The traditional meaning of a museum has been challenged as a result of technological advancements over the last two decades. Museums are being transformed by modern technology from places of looking and learning to places of interaction, participation, and engagement.

Must-visit Museums in Croatia

There are many museums in Croatia that are worth visiting but we are writing you today about our favorite ones!

  1. Varaždin City Museum – The Cultural, Historical, Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Entomological Departments, as well as the Gallery of Old and Contemporary Masters, are parts of Varaždin City Museum.
Photo source: www.visit-croatia.co.uk

2. Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb – The exhibits at the museum are exactly what you would expect. It displays love letters and personal objects from former lovers and is dedicated to failed love relationships and affairs. It tells heartbreaking stories and displays items that represent love.

Photo source: www.timeout.com

3. Archeological Museum, Split – The Archaeological Museum, founded in 1820, is arguably Croatia’s best and most comprehensive history museum. Its vast collection includes 6,000 Salona stone epitaphs, approximately 30,000 history, and archaeology books, a massive number of coins from Antiquity and the Middle Ages, Roman glass and Greek Hellenistic ceramics, and classical sculptures and mosaics.

4. Diocletians Dream, Split – One of the contemporary museums powered by innovation and technology. This is a VR museum where modern technology meets ancient heritage and an experience that brings the history of Split to life. Through a 15-minute VR movie, you will learn a lot of interesting facts about one of the most fascinating Roman emperors – Diocletian – while wandering through the chambers of his palace. When in Split, you can book your visit here!

5. Nehaj Castle, Senj – If you are interested in the history of European castles and the lifestyle associated with them—tournaments, knights, chivalry, and so on—this powerful castle is as close as you can get in Croatia. Nehaj Castle is now a museum with exhibits of drawings, clothing, weapons, and models of various items related to the fortress’s use.

Photo source: www.lika-online.com

6. Zagreb 80’s Museum – The Zagreb 80’s is dedicated to presenting the past in a new way. Its space is a reconstruction of everyday life in the former Yugoslavia in a unique and interactive way that intersects past & future, way of life and heritage, memories and emotions.

Save the list for your next trip to Croatia because Croatia is much more than just a beautiful coastline, delicious seafood, idyllic islands, and photogenic coastal towns.

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Things You Did Not Know About Diocletian’s Palace

If we start listing the most fascinating buildings in the world, Diocletian’s Palace should, for sure, be listed at the top. And why? It was built as the retirement home of Roman Emperor Diocletian more than 1 700 years ago and, today, the palace forms the strict center of the old part of Split where people still live! This is what fascinates every tourist who wanders through the narrow streets of the palace. We are here to tell you some interesting facts about Diocletian’s Palace!

The palace itself contains numerous attractions that used to be an integral part of everyday life. One of the most impressive is the Cathedral of St. Duje, which was actually built as Diocletian’s mausoleum. There is also an associated Bell Tower that was added in the 13th century and is considered to be the most original Dalmatian medieval building.

Here are some of the interesting facts about the palace that you might not know!

1. The palace was built as Diocletian’s retirement home

Diocletian was the first emperor in history to give up the throne and retire to his freshly built retirement home that we know today as Diocletian’s Palace.

2. More than 3 000 people live within the palace walls

Today, Diocletian’s Palace is the heart of Split and more than 3 000 people live within these historic walls. With numerous restaurants, bars, and shops, the area lives to the fullest as it did 1 700 years ago.

3. No tickets are required for the palace

As Diocletian’s Palace nowadays is an integral part of the city center, it is not necessary to buy a ticket for the palace itself!

However, it is necessary to buy a ticket for its cellars. But, believe us, it is worth the price because these cellars hide a lot of interesting facts. This is a great activity if you come in winter or autumn and if you are looking for an alternative to going to the beach.

4. The palace was used as a filming set for Game of Thrones

If you are wandering through the cellar halls and they look familiar, then you are, for sure, a Game of Thrones fan! The basement hall was portrayed as the lair of the very famous TV dragons.

5. UNESCO World Heritage Site

Diocletian’s Palace has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Today, the Palace is well preserved with all of its most important historical buildings and Split is one of the favorite destinations of many tourists.

Diocletian’s Palace is likely to be the first thing you see if Split if you decide to spend your next vacation in this magnificent city. Split is much more than simply the Palace, and there are many other reasons to visit, but the Palace is at the heart of the city center and is the most known attraction (for a reason).

If you enjoyed reading about Diocletian’s Palace, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more! And if you would like to see how Diocletian’s Palace looked more than 1 700 years ago, book your VR visit.