Cultural
Noyau historique de Split avec le palais de Dioclétien
Photo : Francesco Bandarin (CC BY-SA 3.0 igo)
Located on the Adriatic coast in Dalmatia, the historic core of Split centers on the remarkable palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian at the end of the third century. This architectural complex represents an exceptional example of Late Roman imperial construction, seamlessly blending military fortification with luxurious residential design. Following Diocletian's abdication, the palace was progressively transformed into an urban settlement as the surrounding walls enclosed residential, religious, and commercial structures. The site's significance lies in its outstanding preservation and the way medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque layers accumulated within and around the original Roman structure, creating a living palimpsest of Mediterranean urban development. The palace's substantial stone construction and distinctive layout, including its peristyle courtyard and surviving towers, remain visually dominant features of the modern city. This integration of a Roman imperial monument with continuous urban occupation across centuries makes it an important testament to European architectural and cultural heritage.
