Palača Milesi

Diocletian's Palace in Split is an extraordinary historic complex that originally served as the retirement residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Built in the province of Dalmatia, the complex combines elements of Roman villa and palace architecture with military and religious structures. Laid out on a rectangular plan, it stretched behind strong walls with corner towers, while the south façade remained open to the sea. Inside, the layout was divided by a cross street and a longitudinal street that recalled the design of Roman military camps. While the northern section may have served military functions, the southern area housed the imperial living quarters as well as a central peristyle, surrounded by courtyards with temples and the emperor's mausoleum.

After Diocletian's death, the palace remained in the possession of the Roman emperors until it was converted into an inhabited fortress in the seventh century. When the Avars and Slavs invaded the region, parts of the population sought refuge within the complex, marking the beginning of the medieval town of Spalatum, present-day Split. Over the centuries, under Byzantine, Venetian, and Austro-Hungarian rule, the inhabitants adapted the structure without significantly damaging its basic framework. The octagonal mausoleum was converted into the Cathedral of St. Domnius, while the Temple of Jupiter became the Baptistery of St. John.

Today, the historic city center, including the palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can explore the well-preserved colonnades, the peristyle, and the Early Croatian church. The underground halls, long hidden beneath refuse, offer an impressive glimpse into the building's original dimensions. In addition, Romanesque and Venetian buildings as well as works by Giorgio di Matteo bear witness to the lively and multifaceted history of the city, which developed directly on the foundations of the ancient imperial palace.