After Florence and Venice, Steve and I embarked on our East Mediterranean cruise on board MSC Sinfonia. The cruise took us from Venice in Italy to Split in Croatia, Santorini and Mykonos in Greece, Dubrovnik, Ancona and back to Venice.

Our first stop was Split.

Split is the second-largest city of Croatia and the largest city of the region of Dalmatia, with about 300,000 people living in its urban area. But you don’t notice that.

It lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is spread over a central peninsula and its surroundings. An intraregional transport hub and popular tourist destination, the city is linked to the Adriatic islands and the Apennine peninsula.

Split was founded as the Greek colony of Aspálathos (Aσπάλαθος) in the 3rd or 2nd century BC.

Diocletian

Split is now famous for Diocletian’s Palace. After Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus retired as emperor of Rome, he had a place, annex military fort next to the existing town of Salona. The Latin name of Split is Spalatum.

Diocletian is famous for having… uhm… split the Roman Empire in four.

Diocletian’s Palace is now the epicenter of old Split, with its main sites.

Main sites

• Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO heritage site;
• Saint Duje’s Cathedral;
• The Peristylium or Peristil Square;
• Jupiter’s Temple, now Saint John’s Church;
• Two original sphinxes at Peristil and at St John’s Church.
• The Riva promenade;
• The Archeological Museum, closed on Sunday as we found out;
• The graveyard at Sustipan.

There’s more to see.

So?

Split was a pleasant surprise and we would consider returning there. The mix of history, culture and originality makes Split an attractive destination.

Oh yes, we did see commercial activities such bars and clubs and we did see British bos going there to booze up cheaply. Can’t have it all, right?

With the help of Wikipedia and Wikitravel.