Split grew both within and outside the walls of the Palace of Diocletian, where historical
layers of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque are interwoven.
Yacht charter Split – the key to your perfect sailing holiday. Find more about this destination: history, sights, climate, how to arrive info etc. Charter a sailingboat, motoryacht, catamaran or gulet and sail away... Split awaits you
Location and climate
Split is situated on the peninsula in the very middle of Dalmatia and the
Adriatic coast.
Numerous islands - Brac, Solta, Hvar and Vis - are scattered south of
the city, whereas in the northern part there is the spacious Kastela bay
that links Split with the two historical towns: Trogir in the west and
Solin in the east.
Protected and secluded from the continental hinterland by the hill
Marjan as well as the mountains of Kozjak and Mosor (parts of the Dinaric mountain chain), Split
is a safe harbour, and its mild Mediterranean climate with 2.700 hours
of sunshine per year makes it a pleasant oasis even in the winter time.
History and sights
Split, with its 1700 year old history, was an important historical, administrative
and religious centre of Croatia. The first inhabitant of the city was
Diocletian who, precisely in this bay, decided to build a luxurious villa
where he retired after leaving the throne as the Roman emperor. His
palace represents the heart of the city today, the valuable historical and cultural monument as well as a part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
Split was ruled by Croatian kings, Venetian administration, Napoleon’s
army, and Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The city grew both within and outside
the walls of the Palace of Diocletian, where historical layers of
Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque are interwoven.
If you are in Split, don’t miss the opportunity to visit some of the
museums: The Archaeological Museum from the year 1820 - one of the
oldest museums in Croatia; the Treasury of Split Cathedral - containing
a valuable collection of sacral art; the Ethnographic Museum,
established in 1910; the History and Maritime Museum as well as the
Natural Science Museum. The Art Gallery, established in 1931, the
Collection of Franciscan Monastery in Poljud and Mestrovic’s gallery
are also worth visiting.
Today
Nowadays, Split is the main urban, cultural and traffic centre of Dalmatia,
connected with many Dalmatian tourist destinations by mainland and sea.
Sports enthusiasts are offered a variety of activities, from football,
basketball and tennis, to mountaineering, archery, and furthermore,
fishing, water skiing and rowing.
The park Marjan has many charms: gazebos, promenades, playgrounds, a zoo, etc.
Apart from numerous beaches in the surrounding area, the sandy beach
Bacvice in the very centre of Split is also worth visiting, where you can
play the popular „picigin”.
Split has much to offer to the culture and party savvy visitors, especially during the
summertime when Split becomes a huge stage under the open sky.
The traditional Split Summer Festival takes place amid summer season,
when numerous dramas, operas and concerts are performed (from mid
July till mid August). Split Saturday nights are dedicated to classical music
concerts. Apart from that, festivals of folk music and folk performances, etc. also take place.
St. Duje is the patron saint of Split and his day is celebrated on 7th May (the Cathedral
of St. Duje is built on the remains of an ancient shrine and is supposed
to be the oldest one in the world).
How to arrive?
By plane
The Split airport is around 25 km away from Split. Direct flights to
Split depart from a number of European cities: Göteborg, Berlin, Prague,
Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, London and Manchester, etc. There are
many other options if flying to Zagreb. There are several flights
from Zagreb to Split and back on a daily basis, and the flight lasts
approximately 35 minutes.
By car or bus
If you are arriving to Split from the direction of Italy, you can use the
Adriatic highway from Rijeka toward the south, if you prefer to travel
along the coast. Or you can use the highway in the inland.
If you are arriving from the direction of north, the highway Zagreb - Split
is the fastest way. Or you can use the alternative, i.e. the old route
Zagreb - Karlovac - Plitvice - Gracac - Knin - Split.
By ship
If traveling by ship, you can use some of the regular ferry lines from
Rijeka or Dubrovnik toward Split, or international ferry or fast lines from
Italy (Ancona, Civitanova, Giulianova, Pescara, Bari).