People's Square (Pjaca), Split (must see)

Though everyone calls it People’s Square, its original name was Saint Lawrence’s Square, dating all the way back to the 13th century. What makes this place special is that it was the very first part of Split where folks dared to live outside the safety of Diocletian’s Palace walls, marking the city’s slow but steady expansion beyond the emperor’s ancient fortress.

Life here never stops. The city clock overlooking the square has 24 numerals instead of the usual 12, reminding everyone that in People’s Square, time flows on its own unique rhythm. This is where locals and visitors alike gather to rest, eat, drink, meet friends, and simply soak up the city’s lively atmosphere. Connected directly to the Peristyle of the old palace, the square blends the ancient with the everyday.

Surrounding the square, architecture tells its own story—Renaissance grace, Venetian elegance, and Gothic charm all line the streets. Dominating the north side is the Old Town Hall, a 15th-century building that today hosts art and history exhibitions. Legend has it that every building in Split holds a secret or a tale, and here those stories feel alive.

Among the gems you’ll discover in the square are the ornate palaces of former nobility, the Church of Our Lady of the Bell Tower, the Old Town Clock, the charming Old Town Café, and the historic Morpurgo Bookstore, welcoming readers since 1860.

At the base of the square’s flagpole, a quote from local poet Tonći Petrasov reads:
"One doesn’t need to travel anywhere,
nor does one have to search elsewhere,
what you are looking for is precisely here."

In People’s Square, those words ring true. This is where Split’s past and present meet, where stories are shared, and where the city’s spirit pulses strongest.