With the magnificent Croatian sun still shining we explored Split’s city centre - also known as Diocletian’s Palace.
The Roman Emperor Diocletian built the palace in preparation for his retirement in 305AD. After the Romans abandoned the site, the Palace remained empty for a few hundred years. In the 7th century local villagers fled to the palace to avoid the invading barbarians. Ever since, they have made themselves rather comfortable, making their homes and businesses within the palace basement and directly in its walls.
It has been preserved remarkably well, and now it is the historical old town of Split. It was quite bizarre thinking that what was once the epitome of Roman luxury is now filled with fast food outlets and café’s.
It is so beautiful, that not for the first time, we shook our head in amazement and wondered ‘do people actually live here?’
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