Split

Today we were in Croatia, more specifically in Trogir and Split.

Trogir is a small town that was established by Greeks on a small island in the 3rd century BC. It served as a port and changed hands multiple times, as many ports historically have done. It has been most influenced by the Greeks, Romans, and Venetians. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a fort, city walls, and many churches, palaces, and towers. It is considered central Europe’s best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic town. We had some free time to walk around and explore before heading to Split.

Trogir Cathedral: Cathedral of St Lawrence. Built from 1213 through the 17th century

Trogir Cathedral

Lion of the Portal of Trogir Cathedral: sculpted by Croatian sculptor Radovan in 1240

Portal of Trogir Cathedral: same as above

Portal of Trogir Cathedral: Saint Bartholomew shown holding his skin as he was reportedly skinned alive

Trogir Cathedral

Duke’s Palace

Waterfront

Kammerlengo (fortress)

Split is notable as a large section of the old town consists of Diocletian’s Palace. The Emperor Diocletian began building his palace in 293 AD right up next to the sea. It was very opulent and heavily fortified. The remains of this palace make up about half of the old town of Split today. In the 7th century the inhabitants of the nearby town of Salona moved into the palace and established the town of Split. They turned the mausoleum of Diocletian into the Cathedral of Saint Dominus and the Temple of Jupiter into the baptistry for the church. This was all somewhat a slap at Diocletian, who had actively persecuted Christians. The cathedral was consecrated at the turn of the 7th century and is possibly the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world that is active in its original structure. Saint Dominus as a 3rd century bishop who was martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Diocletian’s Palace