Kaštel Štafilić

Mastrinka – Old Olive Tree

Mastrinka – Old Olive Tree is located in Kastel Stafilic. Put Mastrinka

Nehaj Fortress

The Nehaj Fortress is a fortress on the hill Nehaj in the town of Senj, Croatia. The name Nehaj comes from the Croatian term Ne hajati, which means Don’t care. In the Croatian language this fortress has also other names, which are: Kula Nehaj, what means Nehaj Tower, and Nehajgrad, what means Nehajtown.

Castle Rotondo

Castle Rotondo is a fortress castle in Kaštel Štafilić, Croatia, on the Adriatic coast. It was fully constructed in 1508, on the order of Stefano Štafileo, a Trogirian nobleman. Stafileo ordered its construction in 1508 to protect his lands and the Kozjak’s peasants from the Ottomans pillaging

Church of Saint Nofro

The small church of St. Nofro was built on the Veliki Bijać peak (208 m). There is an inscription from 1475 on the façade that recounts the church’s renewal. The church is characterized by a lovely Gothic vault.

Split

Diocletian’s Palace

Diocletian’s Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and must-see place in Split. It is built in Roman military camp style and its basement was used as a spot for Game of Thrones filming.

Emperor Diocletian lived in the palace only for 8 years (until his death in 313 AD). However, the palace remained as an important administrative center for centuries to come. In 7th Century (615 AD) the palace served as a refuge for the inhabitants of Salona after their city was sacked by Avars.

Cathedral of Saint Domnius

The Cathedral of St. Domnius (Katedrala Sv. Duje), lying within the ancient area of Diocletian’s Palace and originally Diocletian’s mausoleum, was designed by Filotas and consecrated in the 7th century. The cathedral has changed little since then, apart from the addition of a 60-meter-tall bell tower built in stages from the 12th to the 16th centuries (the tower can be climbed and presents great views of the palace). Laid out on an octagonal pattern and with a double line of columns — some of them Roman originals — this splendid Corinthian-designed cathedral also contains many notable interior features, in particular the Altar of St. Domnius and the 13th-century hexagonal Romanesque stone pulpit.

Ivan Mestrovic Gallery

While numerous fine examples of Ivan Mestrovic’s work can be seen across the city, the best place to find out more about Croatia’s most revered artist is at the gallery named after him, the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery. A good friend of Rodin, Mestrovic was widely considered one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. He oversaw the design of the gallery himself.

Originally his residence during the 1930s, the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery was started in 1952 after a substantial donation of art from the artist himself. Highlights include a collection of 86 statues in marble, stone, bronze, wood, and gypsum; numerous drawings; and eight large bronze statues in the gallery’s pleasant gardens.

Address: Setaliste Ivana Mestrovica 46, 21000, Split

Marjan Forest Park and the Marjan Stairway

The citizens of Split are proud of Marjan Forest Park and with good reason. Dating back to the fourth century, this beautiful park occupies a peninsula overlooking the city and is a wonderful retreat for foot-weary visitors. Apart from its many rest areas and benches, the park is notable for its towering pine trees, which shelter peaceful walking trails.

Also of interest is the famous Marjan Stairway, which provides access to the vantage point of Telegrin, where the views out to sea are spectacular and include places such as the Kastela Gulf; Salona and Klis; Trogir and Ciovo; and the islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar, and Vis (climbing is a popular sport on the cliffs below the lookout). Marjan Forest Park can be easily accessed from central Split by walking through the old quarter of Varos, a 15-minute walk.

Split Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum should be on every history buff’s list of must-see attractions when in Split. Considered to be the oldest such institution in Croatia, the museum was founded in 1820 and has been at its present location since 1922. Highlights of its more than 150,000 items include the country’s largest collection of gems, as well as stone carvings from Salona, Greco Hellenistic ceramics, Roman glass, approximately 1,600 ancient clay lamps, and numerous bone and metal objects. Also worth a visit is the museum’s beautiful garden.

Address: Frankopanska 25, Split

Klis Fortress

Located about 12 kilometers northeast of the town center, the Klis Fortress is well worth a visit and can even be reached by city bus 22, which departs from Split’s local bus station. If you watch Game of Thrones, you may recognize the castle as the City of Meereen. The impressive fortress sits along a limestone bluff, which is 385 meters at its tallest point, and it’s used to control the valley leading into town. The fort is long and narrow thanks to its lengthy existence, which led to constant extensions as the centuries progressed.

A small museum on-site features displays about the castle’s bloody past, as well as traditional costumes and swords. There is also a room dedicated to filming Game of Thrones, and visitors can climb over the fortifications inside. You can visit Klis Fortress and other Game of Thrones attractions, like the basement of Diocletian’s Palace, which served Daenerys’ Throne Room, on an organized Game of Thrones tour in Split.

Croatian National Theatre

Opened in 1893 and one of the oldest such buildings in the country, the Croatian National Theatre in Split (HNK Split) continues to play an important role in the city’s vibrant arts and cultural community. All told, the theater holds a diverse program of more than 300 performances annually, including everything from ballet to theatrical events, as well as classical music performed by a local symphony orchestra.

The National Theatre also hosts a number of important festivals, including the popular Split Summer Festival (Splitsko ljeto), one of the country’s oldest performing arts events, and the Days of Marulic (Marulicevi dani), a weeklong celebration of important Croatian literature.

People’s Square

Dating from the 15th century, the People’s Square (Narodni Trg Pjaca) in Split features many interesting Renaissance, Venetian, and Gothic buildings constructed through the ages. Of particular note is the Venetian-Gothic Cambi Palace, along with the Renaissance-style Town Hall building, home to the Ethnographic Museum of Split, a fascinating museum that is well worth a visit. The People’s Square lies in the area once occupied by the Palace of Diocletian and is west of the Peristyle. Also of interest is the nearby statue of Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin), created by famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.

Church of St. Dominic

Rebuilt in the 17th century and enlarged in the 1930s, Split’s Church of St. Dominic (Srebrna Vrata I Sv. Dominik) stands on the site of the former Oratory of St. Catherine. Originally constructed in the middle ages, this splendid church features artwork by Palma il Giovane and his followers, including the famous Miracle in Surian and Apparition in the Temple. Also of interest is the nearby marketplace with its wide range of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats from across Croatia (it also boasts the best views of Diocletian’s Palace).

Baptistery of St. John and the Papalic Palace

The Baptistery of St. John (Sv. Ivan Krstitelj) is centrally located inside Diocletian’s Palace. Consecrated in the sixth century, it was originally a Roman religious building, the Temple of Jupiter. Several features of note are the baptismal font with a panel representing King Zvonimir and other dignitaries, as well as carvings by Ivan Mestrovic, which were added to the statue of St. John on the end wall.

Also of interest are the tombs of two bishops from the 8th and 11th centuries. A number of interesting relics from both the Baptistery of St. John and Diocletian’s Palace can also be enjoyed at the neighboring Museum of Split (Muzej Grada Splita), in the former Gothic Papalic Palace. Considered to be the finest of the 15th- and 16th-century buildings constructed in the open areas of Diocletian’s Palace, the museum is noted for its collection of books illustrating the history of the city, as well as an armory featuring weaponry from the 15th to 18th centuries.

Day Trip to the City of Salona

About eight kilometers north of Split is the old town of Salona (Solin), a popular destination for history buffs. Occupied by Illyrians, Greeks, and finally the Romans, this ancient town holds many historical attractions within its ancient city walls, including its amphitheater, aqueduct, Bishop’s complex, and forum.

Built by the Romans in the second century, the impressive Salona Amphitheater is designed to hold up to 20,000 people at a time and is notable for its underground channels, believed to have been used for staging mock naval battles. The Salona Aqueduct, built in the first century, is an impressive sight that is easily accessible and once carried water from the river Jadro to Split, ending at Diocletian’s Palace.