Stunning Split

Split, Croatia

We arrived in Split via ferry. As the boat approached the marina we had our first glimpse of this dramatic and striking city. The riva – the pedestrian promenade along the water’s edge – is full of palm trees and has the most beautiful backdrop of old buildings and colourful facades. This was only the first of many views we’d be enamoured with in stunning Split!

Old Town (Stari Grad)

We spent most of our four days in Split down by the riva and in the Old Town. Being that it was the beginning of April, we were fortunate enough to avoid most of the crowds that flock to the city in the summer. This meant that I was able to gawk at and photograph so many of the captivating cobble-stoned alleyways at my leisure. Something about the loose, organic lines of the stones, the occasional laundry hanging out to dry, open shutters letting the spring breeze and warm sunshine in, cascading plants, and the occasional cat (or two!) is just so perfectly picturesque to me.

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Diocletian Palace

One of the main attractions in stunning Split is the Diocletian Palace. The young Emperor Diocletian built this palace in Split – then the Illyrian province of Rome – after he abdicated the throne. This 30,000 sq m (323,000 sq ft) complex was built for his retirement in the year 305AD. It housed numerous apartments, a military complex, and a place for worship. The southern side of the palace was directly on the water’s edge, making transfer from ship to palace possible without the need of a dock.

Many parts of the palace have deteriorated or were destroyed in the last 1700 years, but what remains today is as stunning and impressive as ever. The complex is home to around 3000 residents today and numerous cafes, shops, and restaurants. There is one paid portion – access to the underground network – but everywhere else is available for you to freely roam through.

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The Split City Musuem (25kn per person) is a great place to visit if you’re keen to learn more about the Diocletian Palace. Mac and I went in to escape the rain, but we ended up learning quite a lot not only about the palace, but about the history of the city as well!

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Marjan Forest Park

The furthest west part of the peninsula of Split is Marjan Forest Park. This huge natural area is full of hiking & cycling trails, hidden beaches, fantastic lookout points, and so much more. Mac and I trekked to the top of Telegrin Peak (178m) for a wonderful view over the city below.

There are numerous ruins and old churches scattered throughout the park, and we made an adventure of going to see them. Along the way we were treated to a bird’s eye view of some sparkling palm tree-lined beaches.

A cafe perched on the top of a hill provides not only a fine place to grab a hot drink, but also another place to grab a photo of the fantastic view of the riva down below. Mac and I were super impressed by the remote camera pillar set up beside the cafe. With the free WiFi it provided, we downloaded the app and were able to use our phone as a remote trigger for a camera located inside the pillar. We struck a pose (or five) and the photos were instantly downloaded to the phone! I’m sure this technology isn’t anything new or hard to believe, but Mac and I were easily impressed!

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I so enjoyed my time in stunning Split. The city is extremely walkable and provides a lovely view or scene around every corner. Walking along the riva – especially on a sunny day – is totally delightful. The benches shaded by the towering palms are a perfect place to sit for a rest, and to enjoy some gelato! (The cafe Riva has dairy-free dark chocolate gelato, and it is SO good. Mac and I went back three times during our stay!!)

Tell me, what’s your favourite gelato flavour? (I’m a chocolate fan through and through.)

In other fun news, this post about Stunning Split is actually the 400th blog post I’ve published here on A Taste of Trace!! If you’ve been reading since our travels to Central and South America way back in 2015, THANK YOU! I so enjoy putting together these posts and am always thrilled to hear whenever they resonate with someone. 🙂 

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