What to do and see in Split, nightlife and museums in the Croatian city

Overlooking the Adriatic Sea and embraced by the rock of the mountain Dinarathe splendid Dalmatian city of Split it is an extraordinary set of natural beauties and historical references, modern and worldly life and suggestions from the past. And the blue of the Adriatic as a frame. Born around a Roman imperial palace, Split has transformed into a city, making the inhabited center an attraction in itself. That’s why to the question what to do and see in Split the answer is: everything. In the sense that the only way to penetrate its complex beauty is to take the time to walk along the narrow streets that often look like tunnels where the Roman, medieval and Renaissance layers blend together to form a unique urban mix.

And one shouldn’t limit oneself to lazy wanderings in the city center: even the residential districts, such as Veli Varos, Lucac And Manus they are made particular and charming by the winding encroachment of picturesque alleyways and stone houses that are so typical of traditional Dalmatian towns. The then modern development, above the city in a westerly direction on the hill of Marjan it offers easy access a to a pleasantly wooded park, with some nice views towards the centre.

What to do and see in Split: the Roman remains

The first thing between what there is to do and see in Split Croatia is to walk freely around the palace of Diocletian stop for a coffee inside the palace, to enjoy the sun, listen to the people’s chatter and linger in this place where the ancients used to live in absolute tranquillity. The palace, 1700 years old with its Roman architecture is the backdrop to modern life by day and by night with trendy shops and quaint cafes interspersed with the ruins of the imperial fortress whose greatness can only be understood by looking from the surrounding hills.

Construction began in 293 and was completed in ten years using a variety of materials from nearly all over the then known world including sphinxes arrived from Egypt. This is also why the Palace of Diocletianthe first of things to do and see in Split it has become the quintessential “living museum” as the shops and houses are perfectly inserted within the walls of the ancient complex.The “cellar” of Diocletian

The part of the building called “cellarwas built during the reign of Diocletian to support the apartments above it and, until 1956, was virtually unexplored, still cluttered with the debris of thousands of years of history. In recent years, however, it has been cleaned up and opened to visitors. who can, by admiring the layout of these immense spaces, imagine the original layout of the building. In the meantime, life continues above and what was once the central courtyard of the building, the Peristyleis today one of the meeting points of the city, with people quietly intent on sipping coffee without giving apparent weight to all the ancient architectural structures that surround it.

It is less historic but no less lively. Among the things to do and see in Split there is definitely a visit to fish market where it’s nice to dive into the excited frenzy of weighing, cutting, bargaining that has been taking place in this corner of the building since 1843. The smells and sounds are penetrating and that’s why it’s worth going on and also visiting the fruit and vegetable market, the one that is called Pazarand which is not far away.

From the waterfront to the center

Then continue your visit among the things to do and see in Split and ask a passerby where the Avenue of the Croatian National Revival. He will probably stare at you. Then repeat the question and ask where it is The shore. Everyone knows and will tell you. This is because the Riva is a wide street directly on the waterfront that runs along the historic center and hugs the palazzo on the south side. And the shore, in fact, the meeting place, day and night, for the people of Split who give their best here in some interesting activities such as chatting for a long time over a cup of coffee and watching the people go by. There Split shore it continues west and is picturesque along its entire length, perfect for a stroll, a break in the shade or relaxing on the deck chairs.

Other things to do and see in Split: museums

The maritime museum Croatian is located within the 17th century Gripe fortress and the museum contains a range of different exhibits from various eras including the oldest torpedoes in the world, a collection of anchors from ancient shipwrecks, nautical equipment and ship models from ancient galleys to modern cruise ships. It also tells the story of Adriatic fishing traditions. The Ethnographic museum offers the chance to explore one of the historic houses in the heart of the Diocletian’s Palace.

The medieval rooms have been carefully reconstructed and in the galleries where you pass you can admire a series of finds from past eras. Finally the museum of Croatian archaeological monuments, founded in 1893, making it one of the oldest museums in the country, contains 150,000 exhibits, stone, glass and ceramic artifacts from various historical periods. There are also examples of jewelry, weapons and everyday objects, as well as a large number of stone monuments from old Croatian churches.

Walking in the center between the square and the cathedral

There Piazza del Popolo it is connected to Diocletian’s Palace from Zeljezna Vrata or from the Iron Bridge. This pedestrianized space has been Split’s main square since the 14th century and locals refer to this elegant space, paved with white marble and surrounded by outdoor cafés, as Pjaca (from the Italian name of square). In the centre, the 15th century town hall with three Gothic-Venetian arches.

Then it’s the turn of the Cathedral of San Dominius overlooking the Peristyle. The original nucleus is an octagonal mausoleum from the third century built for Diocletian. It became a church in the seventh century and history here has played its cards with great irony: the cathedral is dedicated to one of the victims of Diocletian, the first bishop of Salona. After visiting the interior of the cathedral, you can climb the bell tower to get a nice view of the surrounding area and the nearby port.

Split is the gateway to most of the islands of central Dalmatiaamong which Brac, Hvar and Solta, as well as the more distant Vis, Korčula and Lastovo. It is also becoming a docking point for large cruise ships.