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Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Croatia
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii, iv
Reference	97
Region†	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Inscription	1979  (3rd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Diocletian's Palace (Dioklecijanova palača in Croatian) is a building in Split, Croatia that was built by the emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD. At the time it was built, there was no such city of Split, and the original town was built around the palace. The Latin name of the city, Spalatum, was derived from the original name of the local Greek colony Aspalathos, which, in turn, was named after a white thorn common in the area. Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with the latin word for palace, palatium.^[1]

Diocletian had this massive palace built to spend the last years of his life after abdicating on May 1, 305 AD. The bay is located on the south side of a short peninsula running out from the Dalmatian coast into the Adriatic, four miles from the site of Salona, the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. The terrain on which the palace was built slopes gently seaward. It is typical karst terrain, consisting of low limestone ridges running east to west with marl in the clefts between them.

After the Middle Ages the palace was virtually unknown in the West until British neo-classical architect Robert Adam had the ruins of the palace surveyed and, with the aid of his draughtsman, Charles-Louis Clérisseau, published Ruins of the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia (London, 1764). Diocletian's palace had an influence over Adam's Neoclassical architecture^[2] and the publication of measured drawings brought it into the design vocabulary of European architecture for the first time.

This palace is today the heart of the inner-city of Split where all the most important historical buildings can be found. The importance of Diocletian's Palace far transcends local significance because of its level of preservation and the buildings of succeeding historical periods, stretching from Roman times onwards, which form the very tissue of old Split. The Palace is one of the most famous and integral architectural and cultural constructs on the Croatian Adriatic coast and holds an outstanding place in the Mediterranean, European and world heritage.

In November 1979 UNESCO, in line with the international convention concerning the cultural and natural heritage, adopted a proposal that the historic Split inner city, built around the Palace, should be included in the register of the World Cultural Heritage.^[3]

In November 2006 the City Council of Split decided to approve construction of over twenty new buildings within the palace (including a shopping garage complex), despite the fact that the palace has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Monument. According to many sources, the decision appears to be primarily politically motivated and largely due to lobbying efforts of local real-estate developers.

The ground plan of the palace is an irregular rectangle with towers projecting from the western, northern, and eastern facades. It combines qualities of a luxurious villa with those of a military camp, with its huge gates and watchtowers. The palace is enclosed by walls, and at times, it housed over 9000 people. Subterranean portions of the palace feature barrel vaulted stonework.

Only the southern facade, which rose directly from, or very near to, the sea, was unfortified. The elaborate architectural composition of the arcaded gallery on its upper floor differs from the more severe treatment of the three shore facades. A monumental gate in the middle of each of these walls led to an enclosed courtyard. The southern Sea Gate (Porta Aenea) was simpler in shape and dimensions than the other three. Perhaps it was originally intended as the emperor's private access to boats, or as a service entrance for supplies.

The dual nature of the architectural scheme, derived from both villa and castrum types, is also evident in the arrangement of the interior. The transverse road (decumanus) linking the eastern gate, the Silver Gate (Porta argentea) and western gate (the Iron Gate, Porta ferrea) divided the complex into two halves. In the southern half were the more luxurious structures; that is, the emperor's apartment, both public and private, and cult buildings. The emperor's apartment formed a block along the sea front. Because the sloping terrain created large differences in level, this block was situated above a substructure. Although for many centuries almost completely filled with refuse, most of the substructure is well preserved, giving us evidence as to the original shape and disposition of the rooms above.

Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, around which the Croatian city of Split emerged

Diocletian's Palace viewed from the south

A monumental court, called the Peristyle, formed the northern access to the imperial apartments. It also gave access to Diocletian's Mausoleum on the east (now the St. Domnius cathedral of Split), and to three temples on the west (two of which are now lost, while the third was, similar to the mausoleum, transformed into a baptistery).

The northern half of the palace, which was divided in two parts by the main longitudinal street (cardo) leading from the northern gate, the Golden Gate (Porta aurea) to the Peristyle, is less well preserved. It is usually supposed that each of these parts formed a large residential complex, housing soldiers, servants, and possibly some other facilities. Both parts were apparently surrounded on all sides by streets. Leading to perimeter walls there were rectangular buildings, possibly storage magazines.

The Palace is built of white local limestone and marble of high quality, most of which was from marble quarries on the island of Brač; tufa taken from the nearby river beds; and brick made in Salonitan and other workshops. Some material for decoration was imported: Egyptian granite columns and sphinxes, fine marble for revetments and some capitals produced in workshops in the Proconnesos.

Water for the palace came from the Jadro River near Salona. Along the road from Split to Salona impressive remains of the original Roman aqueduct can still be seen. They were extensively restored in the 19th century.

• Marjan Hill

Robert Adam's Ruins of the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia

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Diocletian's Palace

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Croatia
Cathedral of St. James, Šibenik · Dubrovnik · Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica, Poreč · Plitvice Lakes · Split with the Palace of Diocletian · Trogir

Coordinates: 43°30′29″N, 16°26′18″E