Diocletian's Palace

"Diocletian's Palace (Dioklecijanova palača) in Split, Croatia, is an ancient palace built by the Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the 4th century AD. Today, it forms about half of Split's old town, a vibrant maze of streets, shops, and restaurants within its very walls. This remarkable fusion of Roman grandeur and modern life is what makes Split so captivating. The rectangular palace boasts four corner towers, three gates on each side, and was constructed from stone and brick, adorned with marble and sculptures. Originally divided into two sections, the imperial quarters resided in the south, featuring a central courtyard (Peristyl), a mausoleum (later converted to the Cathedral of Saint Duje), and a temple to Jupiter (now a baptistery). The northern sector housed the military and service areas. Diocletian's Palace is one of the most significant Roman structures remaining today, earning its UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. Remarkably, the palace is still inhabited, brimming with residential buildings, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Naturally, it has become a popular tourist destination, attracting over a million visitors each year."

"For Game of Thrones fans out there, you might recognize some of these views, as this is where some of the scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed. I’m not an expert in history (I wasn’t that passionate about history in school) but while doing my research, I found some interesting facts. The Diocletian’s Palace is the place where the city was born, and it's been a UNESCO Heritage since 1979 (pretty impressive, right?!). Diocletian, the Roman emperor, built this amazing place near his birthplace and spared no expense. The Diocletian Palace includes temples, streets, a bathhouse, large substructures, and gardens. Basically, it’s a complex city built inside of a bigger one. These days, in those large substructures you will find souvenir shops and, if you are a souvenir seeker, you will spend hours roaming these streets."

"Entering the Old Town, from the bus stop or boat pier, you will most likely walk past Diocletian's Palace. There are often men dressed as Roman Soldiers doing a performance in this square in the evening. "