The Diocletian’s Palace is one of the most well preserved Roman Empire-type palaces. It is found in the Eastern Europe’s Republic of Croatia and was constructed in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD. It was the place of refuge for the Roman Emperor Diocletian during the declining years of his empire. He had built it near his birthplace in Aspalthos, Damaltia.

The palace is one of the most intriguing architectural and cultural buildings in the Croatian Adriatic Coast. It is an outstanding example of Roman influence on the Eastern Coast of Adriatic. The buildings within the palace are characterized with the transitional style of imperial villa, Roman Camp and Hellenistic Town.

The palace’s eastern end features the Portan Artentea, or the Silver Gate, with the Church of St. Dominic Gracing the opposite side. The Church was rebuilt from 1932 to 1934. The Silver Gate is the gateway to the Plain of King Tomislav and onwards to the Peristil – the center open area of the palace. On the longitude sides, the palace features arched colonnade which are made with both Gothic and Renaissance styles of architecture. There is also a monumental port that comprises four columns on the southern end of the palace.

The Mausoleum of Diocletian

The Mausoleum of Diocletian is todays Cathedral of St. Doimus which have been dedicated to St. Mary. It is located in the eastern part of the Palaces center and features its original octagonal form that is encircled by 24 columns. The interior of the mausoleum is round and features two rows of Corinthian columns. The mausoleum is roofed with a dome and has wooden gateposts and a stone pulpit. The pulpit is from 1th century and thus one of the oldest monuments in the mausoleum. There is also the choir that was constructed in the 19th century and furnished with Romanesque furniture.

The Jupiter Temple

Inside the palace you will also find the Jupiter temple whose closed part is richly decorated. It was a famous baptistery in the Middle Ages

Diocletian Street

This street runs from the Peristle to the northern Golden Gate (Portan Aurea). To the right of this street is the Papaliceya Street which features the 15th century Papalic Palace which represents the most important Gothic architecture in the split.

Other important features within the palace include the Kresimir Street that runs from the central square of the palace to the Iron Gate in the west, the Cindro Palace that was built in the 17th century and represents the best Baroque architecture in the complex, The NarodniTrg Piaca which is a square that was the medieval commune and the most lively square of the modern city, and a host of Gothic houses. Visit this town and spend your holiday reading interesting stories from the Roman Empire Era.