Exploring Diocletian's Palace: A Living History in Split! 🇭🇷🏛️

#summervacay My journey from Dubrovnik to Split offered a clear first impression: Dubrovnik felt like a pure vacation spot, while Split leaned more towards everyday life. My initial task in Split was to book our island-hopping boat trip. After sorting that out on the Riva, we immediately ducked into an alleyway right off the promenade and entered Diocletian's Palace. The palace isn't huge, and its public areas are free to explore. The central square is quite small and bustling with tourists. If I felt like a leisurely sightseer in Dubrovnik, here in Split, I felt more like a local, simply perching myself on a stone step without a care in the world. This is the former retirement palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian, built in the 4th century AD. Unlike Dubrovnik's Old Town, Diocletian's Palace, along with its surrounding historic district, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. This fact actually confused me a bit at first, as I couldn't find the World Heritage sign anywhere within the palace itself. I finally spotted it on the steps leading into a nearby market. It wasn't until I returned to my accommodation and looked at a map that I realized the entire coastal palace district is the complete World Heritage site. Though the palace may seem small, its thousands of years of history aren't just confined to crumbling ruins. Instead, they've been completely integrated into modern life, brimming with a strong sense of local living. Beyond selling tourist souvenirs, the "residential areas" within the palace also offer various agricultural products. Despite being a bit pricey and attracting a few flies, we ended up spending 8€ on 14 cherries and 4 figs because we were parched. Naturally, they were absolutely delicious! #croatia #split #diocletianspalace #ancientrome #unescoworldheritage #croatiantravel #history #locallife #romanpalace