St. Martin's Church

It was built in the narrow space of the former Roman guard corridor, above the Golden Gate in the northern wall of the palace, where it was converted into a church in the 6th century. Its extremely small dimensions, only about 1.6 meters wide and about 10 meters long, make it a unique witness to the continuity of life and faith in this historically layered space. Dedicated to Saint Martin, the patron saint of soldiers, the church was probably created precisely as a spiritual complement to the former military function of the premises, which reflects the close connection between architecture, social needs and religious life in the early Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, the church was shaped and adapted to liturgical needs, and a special value is preserved by the altar stone relief from the early medieval period, located inside the church and visible today. Although the church is small and unobtrusive, it has exceptional importance because it preserves numerous elements of pre-Romanesque art and symbolizes the continuation of religious life in Split from the time of the fall of the Roman Empire to modern times. Access to the church is through a narrow passage along the northern wall of the palace, further emphasizing its intimate and hidden nature. Today, the Church of St. Martin is open to visitors during limited hours, and in addition to being a tourist attraction, it is also the place where a mass is celebrated once a year on the feast of St. Martin, held by the Dominican sisters, the owners of this sacred building.