Split

Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city on the Adriatic coast when on a Croatia vacation. Facing the harbour is the Diocletian Palace, one of the most amazing Roman ruins anywhere. It is an enormously complex and the most important sight in Split. These ruins are some of the most valuable surviving buildings of the Roman era on the Adriatic coast and the largest Roman palace ever built. The Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered this to be built as a residence for his retirement. 

Today, it is a city within a city with a labyrinth of narrow streets packed with people, bars, shops, cafes and restaurants located within the old buildings. There are 220 buildings within the palace boundaries, home to some 3000 people. The centre of the complex is the main square called the Peristil. In the palace, itself are antiques which include three 3500-year-old sphinxes brought to Split from Egypt for the Emperor. Split’s cathedral is another ancient Roman building and is well-preserved. The exterior of the building is still encircled by an original colonnade of 24 columns. The crypt and the belfry are well worth visiting. Although primarily not a beach resort, there are beaches in Split. Most of them are southeast of Split’s harbour. Bacvice Beach is at the beginning of a 10-kilometre/6-mile stretch of coastline offering a large selection of beach resorts on a Croatia vacation package.