Split: Culture, Marjan and Bačvice

The city’s defining themes include Diocletian’s Palace, art venues dedicated to Meštrović, the Croatian Maritime Museum Split and the Archaeological Museum. Marjan offers viewpoints and nature and fitness trails; Bačvice is a sandy beach where Picigin is played year-round. Seafood from the Adriatic is available at the Peškarija fish market.

Diocletian’s Palace is one of the best-preserved monuments of Roman architecture in the world. Its rectangular layout measures approximately 215 × 180 metres and has four large towers at the corners. These approximate dimensions convey the scale of the complex without reducing it to a single building: the palace is a striking landmark for anyone interested in Roman architecture.

The Golden Gate is also part of its history. Emperor Diocletian used it when he entered the palace on 1 June 305. If you are interested in historic buildings, this specific event provides a point of reference in time for the palace’s architecture. It lets you focus your visit on Split’s Roman past rather than seeing the complex merely as a backdrop.

The Meštrović Gallery is in the Meje district of Split, at the foot of Marjan. It preserves sketches, letters, photographs and plans documenting Meštrović’s life. This offers an introduction not only through artworks, but also through personal and planning materials from his life. For a culture-focused trip, you can pair this with the Roman history of the palace.

Meštrovićeve Crikvine – Kaštilac is a separate complex consisting of an old Renaissance fortress and the Church of the Holy Cross. The church contains 28 wooden reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Anyone interested in religious art and handcrafted imagery will find a clearly defined theme here. The Croatian Maritime Museum Split, in turn, is housed in the preserved 17th-century Gripe Fortress. In the courtyard, the museum displays the bow of the steamship “Bakar”. The Archaeological Museum in Split also offers a virtual tour.

Marjan rises above Split and reaches 178 metres at its highest point. It is directly accessible from the Riva and offers several viewpoints overlooking Split and the islands. Nature and fitness trails also make it appealing to travellers who want to spend time outdoors as well as visiting sights. Views, exercise and city history are different reasons to include Marjan in your trip; no specific trail lengths are implied.

Bačvice is a sandy beach in the heart of Split and officially opened in 1919. Picigin is played at Bačvice year-round. The beach and the game represent two distinct aspects of this place: you can include Bačvice in your plans as a coastal destination while also taking note of the local sporting tradition.

Seafood from the Adriatic is available at the Peškarija fish market. This includes sardines, mackerel, red mullet, sea bream, spiny lobsters and mussels. The selection therefore ranges from different types of fish to crustaceans and shellfish. If local cuisine is an important part of your trip, this market offers a direct connection to the produce of the Adriatic.

For more location pages within the Split collection, you can also explore Gornje Sitno, Zrnovnica, Kaštel Kambelovac, Kamen, Srinjine, Donje Sitno, Slatine and Stobrec.

What are the dimensions of Diocletian’s Palace?

The rectangular complex measures approximately 215 × 180 metres and has four large towers at the corners.

What can you do on Marjan?

Marjan offers several viewpoints overlooking Split and the islands, as well as nature and fitness trails.

When is Picigin played at Bačvice?

Picigin is played at Bačvice year-round.

For the broader travel overview: Split-Dalmatia.