The city has a rich history, which is why many of the preserved landmarks are under the protection of UNESCO today. Split’s 2700 sunny hours each year make it very attractive for tourists. This page will display the notable landmarks of the city that you should definitely see if you happen to visit Split.
Diocletian's Palace was built by Emperor Diocletian in the 3rd century. Diocletian allowed the construction of this palace in order to spend the last years of his life in it. Today, this palace is the heart of the city, where the most important historical buildings are located. The palace is one of the most famous cultural and architectural buildings on the Croatian coast and occupies a significant place in the Mediterranean, European and world heritage. In November 1979, UNESCO accepted a proposal to include the historic center of Split on the World Heritage List. The base of the palace is an irregular rectangle with towers on the eastern, western and northern parts.
The monument to Gregory of Nin is the most famous Split monument dedicated to Bishop Gregory of Nin. It is located in front of the northern entrance to Diocletian's Palace. Gregory of Nin was, as his name suggests, the bishop of the Nin diocese. He ruled at the beginning of the 10th century, and in history he was remembered as an ardent defender of the right to use the Croatian language and script in the service of Mass. Gregory was remembered by the people as a hero. His monument was erected on the Peristyle in 1929, despite the great displeasure of some citizens of Split. In 1954, the monument was moved to its current location between the Golden Gate and the Garden.
The Sphinx on the Peristal is an Egyptian sphinx located in front of the Cathedral of St. Duje. Diocletian was considered a divine ruler, similar to the pharaohs, and accordingly took over their custom of placing a sphinx in front of the entrance. It is assumed that there was not just one sphinx but that there were four. In Split and its surroundings at this time there were more than ten sphinxes that were deployed in different places but some were lost or severely damaged in the meantime. The black granite sphinx is almost two and a half meters long and about one meter high.
Bell tower of St. Arnir - At the northern entrance to Diocletian's Palace there was once a Benedictine monastery and today only the bell tower of St. Arnir remains. The Benedictine monastery was founded in the middle of the 11th century. In 1180, the archbishop of Split, St. Arnir, which is made of stones in Poljica and the bell tower was named after him. The bell tower began to be built in the 17th century and was completed in 1708. The monastery was closed after the French came to Split at the beginning of the 19th century, and the monastery was turned into a military hospital. In 1888, the bell tower was destroyed in a fire, and in 1945 the monastery was completely demolished - only the chapel of St. Arnir and the bell tower remained.
Cathedral of St. Duje is located in the heart of Diocletian's Palace. It was built at the beginning of the 4th century and is the oldest cathedral in the world. The church is octagonal in shape on the outside. The wooden entrance door was carved in 1214 by master Andrija Buvina, and it shows 28 paintings from the life of Christ. The door is beautifully preserved, but it should be noted that it was gilded at the beginning.The bell tower of the cathedral is 57m high and is one of the most original bell towers on the Adriatic coast.
