Diocletian's Palace
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You are in a palace that represents one of the best-preserved buildings of the Roman Empire. It was built in the early 4th century, between 295 and 305 AD, by order of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who had it built as a place where he would spend the rest of his life after his abdication. Located by the sea, the palace was strategically planned to have direct access to the port and maritime protection. It was built as a combination of a luxurious villa and a military fortress, with thick walls, defensive towers and monumental entrances on the four sides of the world – the Golden, Silver, Iron and Bronze Gates. Within the walls were the emperor’s apartment, the Peristyle as a central square, the temple dedicated to Jupiter, the mausoleum (today’s Split Cathedral) and numerous other buildings that served for housing, administration and defence. The southern part of the palace housed the emperor’s luxurious chambers and corridors overlooking the sea, while the northern part was occupied by soldiers, servants and warehouses. The palace's basements, which served as support for the upper rooms and storage areas in Roman times, are now preserved and open to visitors. Diocletian, a native of Salona, then the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, was known for his determination and organization of the empire. He is especially famous for being the first Roman emperor to voluntarily abdicate, retiring from political life and dedicating himself to gardening in his palace. Over the centuries, the palace underwent numerous modifications, and eventually became the core of medieval Split. Residents settled within its walls, adapting the Roman buildings to their daily needs. Today, Diocletian's Palace is a lively urban area with shops, restaurants, apartments and cultural attractions, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition to being one of the most important historical sites in Croatia, the palace is also an attractive film location - scenes from the popular series "Game of Thrones" were filmed in its basements, where the underground spaces served as halls where Daenerys Targaryen kept her dragons.