Diocletian’s Palace

Posted on 23. Jan, 2008 by John Brackett in Featured, Split

The main tourist area of Split is the main portico of the Palace. It’s still largely in tact and represents the entrance to Diocletian’s primary living quarters, as well as his tomb and temple to Venus, which is on the spot of Luxor Cafe now. At night, the entire area is lit up and looks wonderful. The city is currently restoring the Roman formations around the portico, so there will be scaffolding covering a large portion of it for, I recall, about 10 years.

The highlight of our time spent in Diocletian’s Palace was the Palace tour. You get a Docent and are put in with a small group of fellow travelers. Ours took us to the deepest recesses of the Palace basement. Excavation of the debris that packed the foundation of the palace salvaged many artifacts and left an exact replica of the interior quarters of the palace for the ages. We explored catacombs of rooms that have been identified for their upstairs functions. A bust is preserved, as well as a roman eating tray and various tools. Our docent was great. She was into the history, and loved showcasing her knowledge.