Old Town Split

At the exit of the city, where it now meets the north-western industrial suburb of Solin with modern buildings, are the remains of Salona. Salona was the administrative, economic and religious center of Dalmatia province in the ancient Roman Empire.

According to tradition, in III. century, the future Roman emperor Gaius Aurelius, Valerius Diocletian (who ruled Rome from 284 to 305), who is considered the founder of Split, was born here. After his voluntary abdication (305), Diocletian returned to his native land and ordered to build a huge palace-fortress of 3 hectares. 300 years later, the inhabitants of Salona sought protection from Avar and Slav attacks behind its high walls.

In the following centuries, the borders of the medieval city spread beyond the palace area, and during the Renaissance, villas and residences of wealthy townspeople appeared in its vicinity; famous masters such as Juraj Dalmatinac, Andrija Alesi and Nikola Fiorentinac took part in the city's building.