Split Travel Guide
Split is the main city of Middle Dalmatia that occupies a picturesque area in the central part of Croatia's Adriatic coast that is covered with forested hills sloping gently down to the sea. Split is a city of a glorious past and a brilliant present, providing an immense cultural, entertainment and sports offer and blessed with a unique architectural splendour, which makes it an outstanding tourist attraction.
As one of the major traffic centres, Split can be accessed by all means of transport. The international airport which is 20 km far from the city receives regular flights from Dubrovnik (35 minutes), Zagreb (45 minutes) and major European cities. The local train station can be reached in 5 hours from Rijeka or Zagreb; a speedier 4-hour Split travel from Zagreb is possible by car thanks to the newly opened motorway between the two cities. The bus terminal receives lots of local and international busses from all over Croatia and abroad. The city ferry port is connected by frequent car and passenger boat routes with the country's mainland and island ports.
The splendid walled historical centre with its paved narrow streets, impressive squares and a colourful marketplace is separated from the seafront with a gorgeous tree-lined promenade, locally called Riva, which is filled with benches, cafes, bars, small shops and allows a pleasant walk to the green Marjan hill where a beautiful park for a quiet Split travel is located.
Split is one of the oldest cities in the region, with its 1700th anniversary having been celebrated in 2005. However, the historians have reasons to believe that its origin dates back to the 4th century BC Greek settlement of Aspalathos. The official foundation dates (295-305 AD) go back to the times when the Roman Emperor Diocletian initiated the construction of a huge palace that has been an enormous attraction for a Split travel for ages.
The 7th century Slavic invasion of the adjacent town of Salona promoted the development of a settlement around the walled palace where the majority of the fugitives found their shelter. During the 12th to 14th centuries of Croatian and Hungarian authority Split was considerably a self-governing city, and in the following four centuries of the Venetian reign (1420-1797) became an important naval and cultural centre in the Adriatic.
After the Napoleonic wars of 1806-1813 Split was joined to Austria-Hungary and after its collapse in 1918 was annexed to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The following years were the time of a great economic growth as the former main port of Zadar had been taken over by Italy. During World War II the city was invaded by the Italian and German troops until it was completely liberated in 1944.
Today's Split is an incredible mixture of historical monuments and modern amenities that produces a striking impression.
The old city with Croatia's most amazing Roman palace has been listed among the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites since 1979.
As a multipurpose tourist destination, Split offers a wide range of opportunities:
- Split attractions. Split is rich in monuments from all periods of history, but its inner historic nucleus encircled by the walls of Emperor Diocletian's Palace will always remain its primary trademark.
- Annual Events and Festivals in Split. The famous annual festivals and numerous smaller events that never seem to cease are powerful reasons for making an exciting Split travel.
- Split Restaurants and Nightlife. The local restaurants and night clubs have their special thrills to appeal to the visitors.
- Beaches and Active vacations in Split. As a trendy seaside resort, Split offers an abundance of beaches and leisure sports to enjoy both on land and in water.