Audio Guide: Split Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Split

Welcome to Split, Dalmatia’s sun-drenched heart and, believe it or not, the ultimate ancient retirement plan.

Its story has a bit of a botanical side and dates back more than two millennia, when Greek settlers from Issa (or modern-day Vis) founded here a colony they called Aspalathos, named after a prickly, yellow-flowering shrub that still dots the coastline. The Romans called it Spalatum, and after centuries of linguistic evolution, it gradually became Split.

Around 300 AD, along came the Roman emperor Diocletian, who, weary of imperial politics, decided this sunny corner of the Adriatic would make an excellent retirement address and a perfect spot to grow cabbages (yes, really). He built an enormous fortified residence—now known as Diocletian's Palace—which, as it turned out, didn’t just house the emperor, but eventually became the bones and heartbeat of an entire city.

Over the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Split flourished under Byzantine, Hungarian, and Venetian influence before entering the Habsburg and later Yugoslav eras, each leaving its mark, like history's own architectural collage.

At the heart of everything stands Diocletian's Palace, a massive complex of stone gates, courtyards, temples, and winding alleys. Beneath it lie the remarkable and mysterious Podrum cellars—vaulted halls that once supported the emperor’s apartments above. Inside the palace, you’ll also find the impressive Cathedral of Saint Domnius, occupying what was originally the emperor’s mausoleum.

Nearby stands the towering Grgur Ninski Statue. Tradition has it that rubbing the statue’s oversized toe brings good luck—and judging by the polished shine of that toe, plenty of visitors have opted not to risk skipping the ritual.

Outside the palace, Split opens into a series of lively squares, including People's Square—the city’s long-time social living room. A short stroll away is Fruit Square, once home to the city’s fruit market. Then, there’s the elegant Republic Square, also known as Prokurative, with Venetian-style arcades framing a broad open space.

Along the water runs the famous Riva Harbor promenade, lined with palm trees, cafés, and a steady parade of boats. And for those keen on filming locations, the Game of Thrones Museum celebrates the series that turned parts of the palace into the fictional city of Meereen.

Diocletian was famously asked to return from retirement and resume his rule in Rome, only to reply that one should see his cabbages first. Now, Split invites you to stroll through history instead of corridors of power. So, lace up your shoes, charge your camera, and come walk the palace streets where emperors once tended gardens, and where today, every corner reveals a story waiting to be discovered.