City history
From the grand Roman architecture of Diocletian's Palace to its vibrant Mediterranean culture, Split offers a unique journey through centuries of Dalmatian history.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Derived from the name of Emperor Diocletian"
The city originated around the massive residential palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century, which remains the city's core.
Diocletian's place
The settlement began as the retirement residence for Emperor Diocletian.
Evolved from Spalatum
The Latin name evolved into the modern Croatian name over several centuries.
Chapter two
The region transitioned from local solar time to standard time following administrative shifts within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Croatia implemented the seasonal time shift to daylight saving time to maximize daylight hours during the summer months.
Chapter three
Emperor Diocletian began construction of his massive retirement palace, which became the permanent urban foundation for the city.
Split came under the control of the Republic of Venice, a period that significantly shaped its maritime character and architecture.
Following World War I, Split transitioned from Austro-Hungarian influence to the newly formed South Slavic state.
Split became a central coastal city in the newly independent Republic of Croatia.