Split
The story of Split is already 17 centuries old, dating to the time the Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to build his Palace right on the peninsula near the great Roman city Salona, where he wanted to spend the last years of his life. During these 1700 years the Palace slowly turned into a city, which to this day lures you with its rich tradition, glorious history and the beauty of its natural and cultural heritage.
Such heritage is mirrored in the everyday life of Split. Local inhabitants sit in the same cafes, restaurants and shop in the same stores as tourists, giving them the impression that, by arriving to Split, they became a part of the city and its rhythm. The vegetable market and the fish market represent the centre of each family’s life in Split, just as the entire social life of this city of 200 thousand reflects on the Riva (waterfront), where every guest should endeavour to stay or pass time.
Split is much more than glorious architectural scenery. Split is also a venue for excellent gourmet and experiences, numerous cultural happenings like film and theatre festivals, exhibitions, excellent museums and concerts, a city which offers eclectic modes of entertainment starting with numerous clubs and bars, through street festivals to events such as Ultra Europe Festival visited each year by up to 100 thousand young people from around one hundred countries.
When you tire of the city bustle, there’s Marjan, hill symbol over the city, with its forest, jogging trails, mountain climbing and biking, recreational terrains, but also the ancient churches where the late citizens of Split sought spiritual peace. Also very unusual to find in a city the size of Split are the numerous beaches with extraordinarily clean sea, from the well known Bačvice to the stone secluded oases’ all around Marjan.
After all that’s said are you at all surprised that citizens of Split have a saying "There is no place like Split”?
Attractions
Diocletian Palace is one of the best preserved monuments of Roman architecture in the world. The Emperor's Palace was built as a combination of a luxury villa - summer house and a Roman military camp (castrum), divided into four parts with two main streets.
The Church and the Monastery of St Francis, located on the Western part of the Riva, were built on the old early Christian site, by the grave and a small Church of St Felix, martyr from the time of Diocletian.
Prokurative or as they are officially called, Republic Square resemble the Venice St. Marks Square. They are located west of the Riva and they were named after the arches found on the neo-Renaissance buildings surrounding the square on three sides.
The Riva started to look the way it does today two centuries ago, when the French, in the time of Napoleon ruled these parts through Marshal Marmont. Today this promenade is the cities living room, the most popular and most important public place in Split.
Matejuška has been for centuries a port for small boats owned by fishermen of Split, the residents of Veli Varoš set sail from there out to sea to feed their families. Even today there are dozens of boats tied up, their nets drying , bait being prepared, with a monument dedicated to fishermen biding them farewell as they sail out to sea - a big fish hook.
Events
Numerous local and international festivals recognize Split as an excellent host that provides a unique combination of beautiful location, tradition and fun.
During the month of June Split has been hosting the Mediterranean Film Festival for the past 6 years. The festival presents a showcase of recent films from the Mediterranean area premiering in Croatia or the region, and cannot be seen in the regular cinema distribution.
Ultra Europe Festival is a festival of electronic music held in Split in mid July for the past two years. The best DJ's in the world perform on this festival, and it attracts tens of thousands of EDM fans from 120 countries of the world.
Split Summer Festival is an art festival building its national and international reputation ever since the mid 20th century. Next to the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, it is a festival with the longest and shiniest tradition of the classical spectrum of performing arts such as opera, drama, ballet and music concerts. There is a great array of events: from Jazz concerts and film festivals, to exhibitions, performances and street theatre.
