What is Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia?

Diocletian's Palace is an ancient Roman palace and fortress complex in Split, Croatia, built at the end of the third century AD by Emperor Diocletian for his retirement. Approximately half of the complex served as his personal residence while the rest housed a military garrison. Today, the palace forms about half of the historic old town of Split and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What we know

• Diocletian's Palace was built at the end of the third century AD as a retirement residence for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. [2, 4]
• About half of the complex was designated for Diocletian's personal use, while the remainder housed the military garrison. [2]
• The palace complex is located on a peninsula six kilometres southwest of Salona, the former capital of Dalmatia. [2]
• In 1979, the palace was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. [2]
• The cellars or basement halls of the palace once held up the private apartments of Emperor Diocletian. [3]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhy did Emperor Diocletian choose to abdicate his throne?
• how it workedHow do the cellars support the structure of the ancient palace?
• a case in pointWhat are the Cellars of Diocletian's Palace like today?
• whereWhat role did Salona play as the former capital of Dalmatia?
• the bigger pictureHow does Croatian coastal architecture reflect Venetian history?
• an unexpected connectionHow did an ancient Roman retirement home become a living modern city?The ancient palace did not remain a vacant archaeological ruin, but instead evolved into the inhabited core of modern Split, housing thousands of residents, shops, and cafes.

Sources

• [1]Diocletian's Palace (Wikidata Q322287) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Diocletian's Palace · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Cellars of Diocletian's Palace · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Diocletian · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Architecture of Croatia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. Who are the notable people named Richard Cox?
2. /What is positron emission tomography?
3. /What is Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia?