Where We Be
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| Split, Croatia |
We set foot in Croatia for the first time and
began with a pleasant walk along the Riva. The
Riva is the city's famous promenade beside the
sea, fresh from a recent renovation. The Riva
was packed with people eating at the cafes
since there were three -- count 'em, three --
cruise ships in port.
Split's biggest claim to fame is Diocletian's
Palace. The palace is unique in the world: a
grand Roman monument where people still
actively live their lives. Shops, hotels, and
cafes are built inside the historic walls of this
1,700-year-old palace. The walled enclave was
built as a retirement retreat by the Croatian-
born Diocletian, the last pagan emperor of
Rome. The palace covered 10 whole acres and
took 20,000 slaves ten years to build. It’s a
huge palace but a small historic town, so it only
took us about an hour to wander through its
warren of streets.
began with a pleasant walk along the Riva. The
Riva is the city's famous promenade beside the
sea, fresh from a recent renovation. The Riva
was packed with people eating at the cafes
since there were three -- count 'em, three --
cruise ships in port.
Split's biggest claim to fame is Diocletian's
Palace. The palace is unique in the world: a
grand Roman monument where people still
actively live their lives. Shops, hotels, and
cafes are built inside the historic walls of this
1,700-year-old palace. The walled enclave was
built as a retirement retreat by the Croatian-
born Diocletian, the last pagan emperor of
Rome. The palace covered 10 whole acres and
took 20,000 slaves ten years to build. It’s a
huge palace but a small historic town, so it only
took us about an hour to wander through its
warren of streets.
| Inside Diocletian's Palace, we stood under an oculus (a circular hole in the ceiling) looking up at the sky while a Croatian choral group harmonized |
| The Riva makes for a pleasant place to stroll -- or dine alfresco at one of its dozens of cafes |
| View from the tender dock showing Split's palm-lined Riva |
| Robin jumps for joy at being in a new country |
| These walls are 1,700 years old |
| The Peristil is the town square near the palace's center. Once Diocletian's reception room, it's now a reception room for tourists! |
| It's not every day you get to pose with Jesus! |
| Original walls of Diocletian's Palace |
| By late afternoon the crowds had thinned and we were able to get a feel for the town. We liked its back streets. |
| This is what Diocletian's Palace once looked like |
| Split is a beautiful port of call. This was the view from our cruise ship. |
| Huge statue of Croatian bishop Gregorius of Nin |
| Now residents live within the palace's crumbling walls |
| The still-intact basement of Diocletian's Palace now contains shops and cafes |
| Oculus = cool architectural feature |
| Unusual art installation of the Last Supper located right in the Peristil |
