Diocletian’s Palace: Living Roman Heritage

Diocletian’s Palace is not ruin but city itself. Built as retirement villa for Roman emperor in 4th century, it remains core of Split, its walls and gates still framing daily life. Walking through, you pass Golden Gate, where statues guard entrance, into courtyards filled with shops, homes, and cafés. The Peristyle, once imperial court, glows with marble columns, sphinxes from Egypt, arches rising elegantly. By day, it hums with visitors; by night, it transforms into stage for klapa singers, voices echoing hauntingly. Vaulted basements reveal engineering marvels, now filled with artisans’ stalls and exhibitions. Above, medieval houses lean against Roman walls, windows opening where once soldiers stood. What makes palace extraordinary is its continuity. People live here, laundry sways, children play. Heritage is not distant but daily. Diocletian’s Palace embodies Split’s essence — history not frozen but breathing, lived by every generation.