Split is the largest city in Dalmatia and its cultural, economic, scientific, traffic, sports and tourist center. It is situated in the central Adriatic coast, nearby the river Jadro and Žrnovnica, on a peninsula between the Gulf of Kastela and the Split Channel. The hill Marjan is situated on the western part of the city (176 meters), and the ridges Kozjak (780 m) and Mosor (1330 m) protect the city form the north and north-east, and separate it from the hinterland. Split area is regarded as one of the world’s sunniest places of the middle Mediterranean territory with the extremely bright sky and with about 2700 sunny hours per year which makes Split and its surroundings the warmest part of the northern coast of Mediterranean.
Split is a city with 1700 years of existence with lots of historical, archeological and cultural monuments. It emerges for the Diocletian's Palace (part of the UNESCO's World Herritage), which was constructed for the Roman emperor Diocletian around the year 300 in order to spend his retirement there. Today, Split is a remarkable tourist destination which wil delight you not just with its rich cultural and historical tradition but also with its beauty, warmth and charm.

HISTORY OF SPLIT

FEATURES OF INTEREST
The oldest core is located in the Diocletian's Palace. It was constructed in the 3rd century. The ground plan of the palace is an irregular rectangle. It combines qualities of a luxurious villa with those of a military camp.
The palace has subterranean portions, and used to have a collonade (promenade). In the middle of the southern façade Brazen Gates (Porta Aenea) are situated, in the east Silver Gates (Porta Argentea), in the north Golden Gates (Porta Aurea), and in the west Iron Gates (Porta Ferrea).
There is a church of St Dominik inside (13th ct), the square of the Croatian king Tomislav with the Saint Philip Neri's church, dating back to 1735. Passing by a Renaissance church of St Roko (1516) you will reach Peristil – a central place in the palace. Between the collons there are two chapels: Our Lady of Girdle (Gospa od Pojasa, 1544) and of Our Lady of Conception (Gospa od Zaceca, 1650). There is also the vestibule, a round space topped by a cupola. On the eastern side of Peristil, there is the mausoleum of the emperor Diocletian, today it is the cathedral of Saint Dujam. The cathedral has preserved its complete former appearance.
Among the oldest monuments in the cathedral belong: the monumental wooden gates, the work of Andrija Buvina; and a stone pulpit dating back to the 13th ct. The choral pews in the cathedral (13th ct) are the oldest in Dalmatia. Beyond the cathedral there had been a crypt, later it was transformed in the Saint Lucija's chapel. By the cathedral there is an edifice with the sacristy, treasury and archive. The Romanesque bell-tower was being constructed from the 13th ct till the 17th century. At the foot of the bell-tower there are two Romanesque lions, and on the right there is the Egiptian sphinx made from the black granite (15th ct BC)
In front of the mausoleum there is a small temple, once dedicated to Jupiter. The only thing preserved is the cella with a decorated portal. Later it was transformed into a baptistery. There is also the oldest monument of the medieval Split: the stone arch with a motive of an astragal dating from the 7th ct. The arch is walled in the edifice that stands in front of the baptistery. There is the Papalic palace (15th ct), situated on the right side of the Golden gates. It is the most important monument of the Gothic architecture in Split (today it is the City Museum). There is also the church of Saint Martin with the stone altar and with the motive of the Early Croatian interlacing-ribbon pattern (11th). In front of the Golden gates there is the grandiose statue of Gregory of Nin (Grgura Ninskog) by Ivan Mestrovic. In the park, north-west from the gates, there are the remains of the church of St Eufemia (11th ct), and the fondations of the three-naval church of Saint Arnir were preserved. The church has been constructed by George the Dalmatian (Juraj Dalmatinac).
Right from the Iron gates, there is the Cindro palace (17th ct), the most beautiful Baroque palace of Split. In the vault above the Iron gates, there is the church of Our Lady of Bell-tower (Gospe od Zvonika) from the 11th ct. The bell-tower is the oldest Romanesque bell-tower in Dalmatia (1100 years old). Through the Iron gates you will reach Pjaca with the City hall (1443), the Renaissance Karepic palace, the Gothic palace Cambi (15th ct) and the tower with the watch (16th ct).
In the western part of the palace there is the convent and the churh of Saint Francis. It was founded in the 13th ct and later it was redecorated.
There are the stairs which lead to the Marjan hill, where you can experience the beautiful view of th ecity and surroundings. On your way down you will see two churches from the 15th ct: Betlem and Saint Jerolim.
Going towards Meje, there is the Mestrovic gallery, with its works and also the works of the modern Croatian artists.
Furthermore, there is Kastelet, a former citadel of the family Capogrosso-Kavanjin, from the 17th ct.
In the northen part of the town center there is Prokurative with the theatre, the churh of Our Lady of Health (Gospe od zdravlja) and with numerous museums and galleries.
There is also the pre-Romanesque church of the Holy Trinity and the Fransciscan monastery in Poljud.

The Marjan peninsula and the hill of the same name (178 m), located on the western side of Split, is covered in woods and it is a popular promenade of Split.
Marjan offers peace, relaxing, recreation and fun. There is a promenade, a belvedere, a solarium, trim tracks and the zoo of Split. Southern rocks of Marjan have become lately a popular training field for the rock climbers.
It has 3 belvederes (three peaks: 125m, 148 m, 178 m) can offer you an unforgetable view of the old and the new part of Split, surrounding islands and the Kastela Riviera with Solin and Trogir. The whole Marjan area has lots of churches, among which some being very old (on the southern side there is the chucrh Gospe od Sedam Žalosti ftom the 15th ct, on top of the Marjan cape there is the pre-Romanesqu church of Saint George ftom the 9th ct. Taking the upper road which goes towards east, you will reach a little church of Saint Jerome dating back to the second half of the 15th ct. On the foot of Marjan, on the northern side, there is an Early-Christian church of Our Lady of Spinut).
SUSTIPAN:
Sustipan is situated on the south-west cape of the Split harbour. It was named after the former monastery of Saint Stephen "under pines". The monastery was built in the Early-Midle Ages, it used to serve as a shelter for the Croatian kings. At the end of the 19th ct, the first graveyard outside the city was there. The graveyard was moved later (from 1958 till 1962) to the area of Lovrinac, while at Sustipan a promenade has been decorated. It is characterized by the Classicist gloriet, preserved till today. Among beautiful pines you can experience beautiful view of the nearby islands and the sea.
BACVICE:
Although Split has lots of beaches that have left an inerasable mark on its existence, Bacvice is something special. It is the cult, sandy beach located in the heart of the town. Bathers have their special place there, even during the winter; but during the summer the beach lives with its numerous bathers and visitors – from early in the morning till late in the night. It is famous for the sport named "picigin" which is played
MARMONT STREET AND PROKURATIVE:
The western border of the city core is made by the Marmont street. It was named after the Napoleon's Marshal Marmont who, in his short period of rule in Split, made some unforgetable projects of renewal and modernisation of Split. In 1922, Alliance Francaise was opened there. It consists of a library and a reading-room and it was opened for the Frech enthusiasts.
There is also the first cinema of Split – Katamaran, then there is one of the oldest aphotecary shops in the city, a famous fish-market – the only fish-market with no flies at all thanks to the nearby sulphur-well. There is also the Duplancic palace. Through the northen part of the street you will reach the theatre and the church of Our Lady of Health (Gospe od Zdravlja).
In the western part, there is a big architectone edifice called Prokurative. It has been projected in the Renaissance style with the ground portico with arcades on its sides.
It consists of 3 parts – the northen building facing the sea and the eastern and the western part enclosing the square. The square openes to the sea with the flight of stairs.
VOCNI TRG (FRUIT SQUARE) - one of the most beautful squares in Split. It is characterized by the octanogal Venetian tower, the late-Renaissance Milesi palace and the monument of Marko Marulic made by Ivan Mestrovic. Together they form a neat, urban whole. By the square there is Mihovilova sirina and the square of Radic brothers (poljana brace Radic), creating one of the most picturesque places of Split.
MATEJUSKA is the last picturesque part of the old harbour of Split. TOMICA STINE represent a symbol of the local architecture and of the poscards of Split.
HARBOUR AND TOWN QUAY (RIVA) – The harbour itself is one of the most attractive and the most characteristic urban parts of older coastal towns. The circular shape intensifies its beauty.
The town quay (riva) had for centuries the cetral importance. With the northen side it is closed by the façade of the Diocletian's palace. The central part of the façade is marked by the Venetian citadel, further there lie a whole series of similar size eidficies. There are series of outdoor cafe bars opened during the whole year.
VELI VAROS - the western suburb of Split, Veli Varos is situated by the eastern hillside of Marjan. It is characterized by steep streets which used to be the symbol of the fishermen from Split. It has well saved local architecture and the original local ambients. Among these monuments we can point out the church of Saint Mikula from the 11th ct, , there is also the church of Our Lady of Soc, Our Lady of Saint Cross and Saint Francis.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES:
Split Museum – Papaliceva 1
Archeological museum – Zrinsko – Frankopanska 25
Etnographic museum – Narodni trg 1
Museum of Croatian archeological monuments – Gunjacina bb
Croatian naval museum – Glagoljaska 18 – Tvrđava Gripe
Natural history museum and zoo – Kolombatovicevo setaliste 2
FOUNDATION OF IVAN MESTROVIC – GALLERY – Setaliste I.Mestrovica 46
EMANUL VIDOVIC GALLERY: Papaliceva 1
PHOTOCLUB SPLIT GALLERY – Marmontova 5
GALERIJA KONZERVATORSKOG ODJELA - Porinova 2
ART GALLERY – Kralja Tomislava 15 i Lovretska 11
CATHEDRALS TREASURY – Kraj Sv.Duje 3
FRANCISCAN MONASTERY, CHURCH OF ASSUMTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN POLJUD – Poljudsko setaliste 17


SALONA - Six kilometers north from Split in today’s Solin there are the remainings of the ancient city Salona, metropolis of the Roman province. It was founded by the mouth of the river Jadro. It is protected by the sea cove at the bottom of the Kozjak mountain. In the beginninig Salona was the coastal foothold and the Illyrian port.
Lately it was ocupated by the Romans, and during the time of the Roman emperor Augustus it became an economic and political center of roman estates in Dalmatia. The biggest blossom Salona had during the time of the emperor Diocletian. Around the year 614 it was occupated and destroyed by Slavs and Avars. In Medieval Time it became a part of Croatia.
There are remainings from Roman Age: ruins of semicircular auditorium of the Roman theater from the 2nd century and temple fondations from the 1st century. On the north there is a city square with a row of representative edifices and temples. By the road there is the Roman cemetery, and by the city walls an ancient Christian cemetary with basilic remainings from the 4th century. Walking allong the partialy preserved city walls you can come to the complex of the city basilics, center of the ancient-Christian Solin which includes remainings of the cathedral with an octogonal baptistery, bishop’s court and economy buildings. There are also remainings of Bishop Honorije's basilic with ground-plan in shape of the Greek cross. On the east side there are ruins of the city spas, ancient-Christian cemetery with big three-naval basilic preserved among the ruins. Near by Hipolit’s, Fedre’s, Julije Aurelie Hilae’s and Good Sheperds' sarcophagi were found. They are placed in the Arheologic museum. By the third ancient-Christian cemetary Marusinac there is an opened type basilic, a rare example in ancient-Christian church typology. Remainings of the Croatian queen Jelena (976), sarcophagus with the inscription, were also found there, and it represents one of the most important documents from ancient history of Croatia.
KLIS FORTRESS
Klis fortress is situated in hinterland of Split, 11 km from the sea on the north, on the fold between the ridges Mosor and Kozjak. It is situated on high natural cliffs and it used to have important role in defense of this area. Village’s core is beneath Medieval fortress. In the early Middle Ages Klis was fortified center of the county, it was mentioned for the first time in the year 852. It was a court of Croatian princes. Although fortified, it was occupated by the Turks ( 1573) . After that the Turks conquered the entire Dalmatia, except for the part which was held by Venice.
The fortress is a unique example of this kind, it has three levels, surrounded with triple ring of defense walls.
Today in the fortress there is a historical collection. From the fortress you can experience a beutiful view on the nearby places and also on the far away island Vis.
SINJ
Sinj is the city in the county of the river Cetina, 34 km north east of Split , onced called Setovia. In memory of the victory over the Turks in the year 1715, every year a knight game called ‘’alka’’ takes place. Alkari dressed in the traditional costume, riding on horses in full gallop aim a circle (alka) hanging on the wire with the spear. In the city there is a Museum of alka with costumes and weapons. On the top of the hill there is St. Lawrence's church.
Sinj region and the entire region of river Cetina is very attractive (rivers, springs, caves, lakes, Sinj field)
Beautiful enviroment provides possibility for cousy vacation, sport and recreation, hunt and fishing. Numerous catering facilities offer accomodation and traditional food of Cetina region (frogs, trout, fish crabs, aramasici, lamb)
VRANJACA CAVE
The prettiest cave in the central-Dalmatia, it is situated in hinterland of Split, at the northwest foot of the Mosor mountain near the Kotlenica village. It consists of two halls, the first one without dripstones that was known in 19th century, and the second one that was found in the year 1903. Due to it’s beautiful dripstones, in 1929 it was enabled for tourist visits.
It consists of two main passages and the hallway connecting them. The cave is impressive- full of stalactite and stalagmite, cave pillars and arcades, some halls are blue and green, and some shine covered with crystals. It is 300 m long and 65 m deep. Due to its attractive interior and surroundings, close road and parking space it is easily accesssble and interesting for tourists. Since 1929 the cave has had the electricity and there is a pedestrian path long 300 m.