City Breaks
Split
Split is the biggest Dalmatian city, founded in the early fourth century by the Roman emperor Dioclecian who was Dalmatian by birth.
He sent the best Roman builders to build his palace which he occupied during his retirement. The palace was, and in some ways still is, one of the most remarkable buildings in Europe and which still dominates Split, attracting visitors from all over the world.
The palace inspired the eighteenth century Englishman Robert Adam, who visited the site in 1757 and made numerous drawings which laid the foundation and influenced the Georgian style of architecture in Britain. Many of the buildings of that period which grace London, Bath and Bristol have elements of architecture copied from his visit to the Palace of Diocletian.
Diocletian who died in 313 was buried in the mausoleum originally located on the east of the Peristyle, which towards the end of seventh century was converted into a cathedral. His sarcophagus is thought to have been removed or destroyed during the building works. After Diocletian's death the nucleus of the city began to form within the walls of the palace. Today there are about three hundred houses in it linked by passages and alleys accessible to pedestrian only, being too narrow for motor cars.
The centre of the old city is the Peristyle, the ceremonial entrance court to the old palace. For those interested in culture, Split offers rich pickings with fine architecture from the fifth-century Temple of Jupiter to the Cathedral of St Dornnius, a thrillingly many layered building, begun at the time of Diocletian, but incorporating much later elements, such as the Romanesque belfry, finished more than a thousand years later. It is like a grand mixture of the pagan and the Christian world, existing for centuries in harmony.
Split is ideally situated to be used as a base for exploring the middle Dalmatian coast region. A short bus ride to the west takes you to the World Heritage Site of Trogir. The town lies on a minute island of the same name and is virtually moored to the mainland by a bridge and another island, Ciovo.
Trogir is a small medieval town of weathered Dalmatian stone with numerous palaces, monasteries and churches with squares. In the other direction towards Dubrovnik is the Makarska Riviera with pebble beaches and beautiful scenery dominated by Biokovo, the craggy Dalmatian mountains. Easily accessible by regular ferry service from Split are islands of Brac, Hvar and Vis.
| Hotel | 4 days | 3 Nights | Extra night | Single room supplement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Marjan | £364 | £38 | £21 per night |
| Hotel Peristil | £395 | £49 | £26 per night |
| Vestibul Palace | £430 | £54 | £26 per night |
Prices are in sterling and inclusive of flights, passenger and airport taxes, airport transfers, accommodation with breakfast for 3 nights and resort/hotel taxes.
↑ Top of page