Vestibule
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The Vestibule of Diocletian's Palace was the entrance to the imperial, or residential, part of the complex, which housed the private chambers of Emperor Diocletian. It was built together with the palace at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries, between 298 and 305 AD, at the time when Diocletian was planning his retirement from public life. The Vestibule was conceived as an imposing transition between the public square (the Peristyle) and the imperial private space, with a clear separation and strict access control – only the emperor and the closest circle of court guests were allowed to enter this part of the palace. Architecturally, the Vestibule has a circular floor plan, approximately 13 meters in diameter, with four monumental niches that transform the shape of the space into a square from the inside. The walls reach a height of 17 meters, and the original monumental dome was completely closed and probably richly decorated with mosaics and stucco. Today, the central part of the dome is open due to collapse during later centuries, which gives the space a special light and sound effect. The exceptionally richly decorated interior included a mosaic floor, walls covered with high-quality marble and modeled stucco, and the niches most likely housed statues of Roman deities or symbols of power and cult. The entrance door from the Peristyle was especially decorated with reliefs and monumental - its height was almost four meters, which further emphasized the importance of the entrance. Today, the Vestibule is an attraction of the historic core of Split and one of the most recognizable places in the city. It is known for its exceptional acoustics and is often used for musical performances, mostly by traditional Dalmatian klapa groups. The entire Diocletian's Palace, including the Vestibule, has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The name "vestibule" comes from the Latin language and denotes the entrance area of a house or palace, which accurately describes its original purpose - to be a monumental lobby of the private part of one of the most important imperial palaces of late antiquity.