The history of one of the largest cities in Croatia, Split, began in the first centuries AD, when a palace, about 40 thousand square meters big, rose on the site of the modern megacity. However, this palace didn’t belong to just anyone but to the Roman emperor Diocletian. At that time, it was considered a large-scale palatial complex, from whose ancient stone walls the development of a prosperous Croatian city began. The ancient emperor’s palace still adorns the historic center of Split. It is considered one of the most visited tourist landmarks.

It is best to start discovering the monumental landmark of ancient architecture from one of the four city gates leading into the palace. The design of the emperor’s palace reminds the layout of the military camps of the legendary Roman legions. The square-shaped structure was surrounded by thick mighty walls, each having its own entrance in the shape of a low stone arch. The Golden Gate in the north was considered the central palace entrance. It is decorated with finely carved capitals. In the Early Middle Ages, its long, broad corridor leading to the palace grounds was rebuilt into the St. Martin’s Church. Today, an inscription with the name of the founder of the temple, chaplain Dominic, reminds us of this fact. The main gate’s height was 6.5 meters, but the soil has significantly subsided over the years, and now its height is barely more than 4 meters. The lovely statues that adorned the wall niches on either side of the arch haven’t survived.

The Silver Gate leads to the palace in the east and is a defensive system consisting of two parts: the outer and inner gate. It was not so richly decorated as the Golden Gate, having just a few wall niches where antique statues once stood.

The best preserved to this day is the Bronze Gate in the south, from where you can get into the underground facilities of the palace. During the emperor’s reign, servants lived and worked here: they cooked food for the ruler and kept it all clean and tidy.

The western Iron Gate served as an entrance for the military. Today, it attracts travelers’ attention with a high observation tower with a unique clock, on whose dial you cannot see the ordinary 12 but 24 numbers.