I celebrated my birthday with a weekend trip to Split, Croatia. It’s a scenic and a second largest city lying on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. My 48 hours in Split were nothing but an immersion in rich history, vibrant culture and nightlife, mouthwatering cuisines, splendid beaches, and numerous tourist attractions of its own.
With the numerous magnificent attractions in Split, I did not take long to establish why this city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. This charming and vibrant Mediterranean city offers loads of things to do.
The following are the spectacular places I visited during my 48 hours in Split:
Diocletian’s Palace
You cannot come to Split and miss visiting 1700-year-old Diocletian's Palace which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Split. Some of the iconic attractions within the palace include St. Domnius Cathedral on the Peristyle Square. The impressive Roman ruins are built in Roman military camp style and measures 160m by 190 m. The Palace has four entrances: Golden Gate, Silver Gate, Iron Gate, and Brass Gate. It is more than a palace or a museum; it’s the heart of Split. It has numerous shops, cafes bars, and restaurants. Just to ensure I didn't miss a single fact and detail about the Diocletian's Palace, I took the Diocletian's Palace Walking Tour. It was a good choice since well-informed guides pointed out all of the historic hot spots.
Cathedral of St. Domnius
This is another historical icon in Split I had the opportunity to visit. Locally known as Saint Duje, this cathedral happens to be one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings. Actually, I learned that it was originally built as a mausoleum for Diocletian. Besides, it is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world. The iconic cathedral has three parts: a Romanesque Bell Tower, the mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian and a chorus built in the 17th century. Inside the Cathedral of St Domnius, you'll find the Diocletian's tomb. Climbing the Bell Tower was not an easy thing to do after the tour, but it was so worth it because the view was spectacular.
Jupiter's temple
From the Peristyle Square, I took a narrow street called “Let me pass” (in Croatian: Pusti me da prodjem) and found myself at the Jupiter's temple. I was surprised to learn that the temple has since been converted into a baptistery although it was originally built as a Roman Temple. The temple features a barrel-vaulted ceiling and a decorative frieze on the three walls. Jupiter's temple is considered the best-preserved historical sites in the world.
Riva Promenade
The Riva Promenade is a beautiful waterfront in Split and favorite meeting point for locals. The waterfront is a true urban core of the city and from there you get the best view of the nearby islands. I enjoyed sitting there for hours, sipping coffee and just watching people passing by. The amazing sunsets in this walkway will tempt you to extend your stay in this amazing town.
Island of Hvar
I didn’t want to leave Split without visiting at least one of the nearby islands, so I choose Hvar. Hvar is the sunniest and most happening island in Croatia. The island was a host of world-famous celebrities such as Beyonce, Bono Vox, and Tom Cruise. The sunny island of Hvar is an ideal gateway for people who enjoy the luxurious holiday. The beautiful sandy beaches on this island will leave you craving for more. Here you can enjoy splendid delicacies such as octopus and shrimp, and enjoy in top quality red wine. A walk through the town Hvar showed me an authentic experience of Dalmatian architecture and truly stunning stone made houses for sale.
Clearly, Split has very many spectacular sites and places to visit that cannot be exhausted in just two days. The lifetime experience I had in Split made me vow to come back next year for a real vacation.
With the numerous magnificent attractions in Split, I did not take long to establish why this city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. This charming and vibrant Mediterranean city offers loads of things to do.
The following are the spectacular places I visited during my 48 hours in Split:
Diocletian’s Palace
You cannot come to Split and miss visiting 1700-year-old Diocletian's Palace which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Split. Some of the iconic attractions within the palace include St. Domnius Cathedral on the Peristyle Square. The impressive Roman ruins are built in Roman military camp style and measures 160m by 190 m. The Palace has four entrances: Golden Gate, Silver Gate, Iron Gate, and Brass Gate. It is more than a palace or a museum; it’s the heart of Split. It has numerous shops, cafes bars, and restaurants. Just to ensure I didn't miss a single fact and detail about the Diocletian's Palace, I took the Diocletian's Palace Walking Tour. It was a good choice since well-informed guides pointed out all of the historic hot spots.
Cathedral of St. Domnius
This is another historical icon in Split I had the opportunity to visit. Locally known as Saint Duje, this cathedral happens to be one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings. Actually, I learned that it was originally built as a mausoleum for Diocletian. Besides, it is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world. The iconic cathedral has three parts: a Romanesque Bell Tower, the mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian and a chorus built in the 17th century. Inside the Cathedral of St Domnius, you'll find the Diocletian's tomb. Climbing the Bell Tower was not an easy thing to do after the tour, but it was so worth it because the view was spectacular.
Jupiter's temple
From the Peristyle Square, I took a narrow street called “Let me pass” (in Croatian: Pusti me da prodjem) and found myself at the Jupiter's temple. I was surprised to learn that the temple has since been converted into a baptistery although it was originally built as a Roman Temple. The temple features a barrel-vaulted ceiling and a decorative frieze on the three walls. Jupiter's temple is considered the best-preserved historical sites in the world.
Riva Promenade
The Riva Promenade is a beautiful waterfront in Split and favorite meeting point for locals. The waterfront is a true urban core of the city and from there you get the best view of the nearby islands. I enjoyed sitting there for hours, sipping coffee and just watching people passing by. The amazing sunsets in this walkway will tempt you to extend your stay in this amazing town.
Island of Hvar
I didn’t want to leave Split without visiting at least one of the nearby islands, so I choose Hvar. Hvar is the sunniest and most happening island in Croatia. The island was a host of world-famous celebrities such as Beyonce, Bono Vox, and Tom Cruise. The sunny island of Hvar is an ideal gateway for people who enjoy the luxurious holiday. The beautiful sandy beaches on this island will leave you craving for more. Here you can enjoy splendid delicacies such as octopus and shrimp, and enjoy in top quality red wine. A walk through the town Hvar showed me an authentic experience of Dalmatian architecture and truly stunning stone made houses for sale.
Clearly, Split has very many spectacular sites and places to visit that cannot be exhausted in just two days. The lifetime experience I had in Split made me vow to come back next year for a real vacation.
