Things to Do in Dalmatia

Built as a retirement residence for the Roman emperor Diocletian in the 4th century AD, this massive fortress-like palace makes up about half of old town Split. Although there have been plenty of changes to Diocletian's Palace over the ages, the original quadrant design still remains with four different gates"”the Brass Gate, Iron Gate, Golden Gate, and Silver Gate"”that enclose this walled fortress.

Today, entering Diocletian's Palace through any of the four gates will lead you to the central square of Peristil. Each gate has its own unique architecture, and you'll likely want to experience them all.

Most tours enter through the Bronze Gate first, which is on the south side of the palace and opens directly to the sea. The Golden Gate, the largest and most ornate, was once the main entryway for the emperors. The Silver Gate, meanwhile, leads directly to the popular produce market areas of Split. Lastly, the Iron Gate houses the lovely 10th-century Church of Our Lady of Belfry.

Diocletian's Palace is located in the center of old town Split. Most visitors arrive by car, bus, or ferry and then set off to explore the palace gates on foot. The palace is most easily accessed on foot via the Bronze gate, which is located at the eastern end of the Riva promenade.

The Gates of Diocletian's Palace are fascinating any time of the year. Summer is the busiest tourist season, so consider visiting early in the day to avoid both the heat and the mid-day crowds. Better yet, visit in May, early June, or September to enjoy pleasant weather but fewer crowds.  

Entering through the Bronze Gate of Diocletian's Palace, you'll find yourself in the ancient cellars where you can tour the underground tunnels and learn about their former functions. Make sure to visit the Cathedral of St. Domnius and climb to the top of the bell tower for fantastic views of old town Split. Hit up the Split Market to browse the colorful fruit and vegetable stands and catch a glimpse of local life.

Dedicated to the Ancient Roman king of gods, the Temple of Jupiter was constructed in the 3rd century as part of Diocletian's Palace and is considered to be one of the most well-preserved Roman temples in the world. Diocletian believed he was the reincarnation of Jupiter, who was highly worshipped until the Roman Empire was taken over by Christian rule.

The Temple of Jupiter may be small, but it offers a lot to see, including the headless sphinx that guards the entrance, the huge baptismal font, the many sculptures depicting Roman Gods, and sarcophagi of archbishops buried within. The temple is most often visited on a walking tour of other Diocletian’s Palace sites such as the underground cellars, the Cathedral of St. Domnius, and Peristyle Square.  

The Temple of Jupiter is located within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace near Peristyle Square, the palace’s central courtyard, and opposite Diocletian’s mausoleum. Diocletian’s Palace is a pedestrian-only zone, so the only way of getting to the temple is by walking.

Diocletian’s Palace can be quite busy during the high summer season (July and August), so visit early in the morning to escape both the crowds and the midday heat. Although the Temple of Jupiter is open year-round, it may have reduced hours in winter—be sure to check in advance.

The headless black granite sphinx that looks as though it’s guarding the entryway to the temple was one of 12 sphinxes brought from Egypt, as ordered by the Romans. During the fall of the Roman Empire, Christians were thought to have destroyed the head because they thought it represented a pagan symbol.

Zadar is one of the oldest cities of Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline and has its roots way back in Roman times, when the first fortified walls were constructed around the little peninsula where the old town still lurks prettily. By the 16th century, Zadar was the prize possession of the Venetian Republic and its walls were further extended and modified with a series of decorative and imposing entry gates.

The main entrance to the old town is the ornate City Gate (also called the Land Gate), which was finished in 1543 and is close to Foša harbor on the southern side of the old town. Adorned with six columns supporting a pediment, the gate is classically triumphalist in style with three arched gateways – the middle one designed for 

wheeled traffic and the two side gates for pedestrians. It is topped with the coats of arms of both Zadar and the Venetian Republic, with a winged lion in between as the symbol of St Mark (the patron saint of the Republic). 

The other five gates into the city are the St Rocco and Sea gates – both built by the Venetians; the medieval St Demetrius Gate, which was walled up and subsequently reopened in 1873; the Chain Gate (built under Austrian rule in 1877); and finally the Bridge Gate, built when Zadar was under Italian rule in the 1930s.

The great outdoors never looked as good as they do in Telascica Nature Park. Located along the southeastern coast of Dugi Otok island, Telascica captivates Croatia visitors with its limestone landscape blanketed by an array of pine, olive and fig trees. But it’s definitely those waters that really seal the deal: think, quiet coves cradling crystalline bays; pebbly shorelines where you can gently wade into the sea; and sheer cliffs that drop into the blue abyss. 

While there, be sure to check out one of the park’s most popular attractions, Mir Lake, a salty-watered wonder fed by underground channels from the sea. The lake is shallow, warmer than the sea, and is said to have curative powers. Then, there are also the park’s countless trails and lookout points, many of which you can tackle by foot or perhaps even by rented bike or scooter.

Lying inland from Zadar in northern Croatia, the River Zrmanja rises in the Dinaric Alps and runs for 44 miles (70 km); the bulk of its course lies within the Velebit Nature Park before it empties in the Novigrad Sea after passing the cute, pastel-colored town of the same name built along its meandering banks. Along with its tributary the Krupa, the upper reaches of the Zrmanja are one of the country’s hottest spots for rafting and kayaking through its spectacular limestone canyons – in parts 656 feet (200 meters) deep – and underneath its tumbling cascades. The most spectacular falls are Veliki Buk, a crescent-shaped mini-Niagra where the pristine waters hurls itself 65.5 feet (20 meters) in two steps over a limestone cliff face; a popular hike to the falls starts at Muskovci, with amazing views over the lush Zrmanja river valley.

Walking around Zadar’s old town, you might be surprised to suddenly find yourself amidst the city’s most historic sight, the Roman forum. Constructed between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD, the forum is the largest in Croatia. Today it still features remnants of an infamous “shame column” of sorts (where offenders were publicly humiliated), and a temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva — among other relics from the past. 

Sadly, not a lot of the original forum endures, but what you can see is a healthy scattering of Roman artifacts laid out in the area in front of the Church of St Donatus (and within it, actually, as it is built atop the forum and is home to two Roman columns, and a sacrificial altar). Though Zadar’s forum may seem sparse compared to that of Rome, for example, it’s the fact that these remains very much exist among the city, and not enclosed beyond a ticket booth. This allows visitors and locals to experience Zadar’s forum to the fullest as they walk among it freely, enjoying one of the outdoor concerts, or while simply snacking on a refreshing ice cream.