City cemeteries

The cemetery near Gospin Otok in Solin is an important historical site that was used for the burial of residents from the 17th century onwards, located next to the Church of Our Lady of the Island. The remains of two 10th-century churches have been found on the island, connected to the tombs of Croatian rulers, including the sarcophagus of Queen Jelena, which attests to a long tradition of burial and religious life. The cemetery is part of a wider network of necropolises in Solin, which are located along old roads and have been linked to the development of the city since ancient times. The three main necropolises of Salona – the western, eastern and southeastern – were important parts of the city’s life. The western cemetery, next to the amphitheatre, was explored in the 19th and 20th centuries, where walled burial spaces and various forms of burial were found. The eastern cemetery is known for its inscriptions of Roman soldiers of the VII. Legion, while the southeastern one contains a tombstone inscription of Gaius Aemilius Ingenus, which mentions important infrastructure works. The development of Christianity brought new necropolises such as Manastirina and Kapljuč, where basilicas and tombs of martyrs were built, which indicated the importance of these places. In addition, Illyrian hillforts and cemeteries near Klis, Sutikva and on the slopes of Kozjak confirm the continuous tradition of burial in this area. Cemeteries are often located along roads or churches, which shows the connection of everyday and religious life throughout history.