Private Walking Tour - The Complete Split Experience

Discover Split and its hidden underground with a visit to the cathedral and the temple of Jupiter" is a complete historical walking tour through the old town of Split lasting approximately two to two and a half hours, designed for visitors who wish to explore the palace and its surrounding sites in greater depth. The tour begins on the vibrant waterfront promenade Riva, where guests are introduced to the history of Split and the monumental palace built by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century as his retirement residence. Over time, what was originally an imperial palace evolved into a living city as residents built streets and houses within its walls, forming the historic center that today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the model of the city on the Riva, visitors enter the extensive underground halls of the Cellars of Diocletian's Palace. These massive Roman substructures perfectly preserve the original layout of the imperial apartments that once stood above them and represent one of the most remarkable surviving architectural features of the palace. After walking through the part of the cellars that is managed by the museum, the tour emerges at the central ceremonial square known as the Peristyle, where guests not only admire the view of the iconic bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius but also enter the cathedral itself to see its remarkable interior. The tour includes a visit inside the Temple of Jupiter, one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the palace, that was transformed into a church, allowing guests to experience the blend of pagan and Christian history that characterizes the site. From the Peristyle, visitors continue into the monumental Vestibule of Diocletian's Palace and explore the Triclinium. Continuing through the eastern section, the route passes by the Silver Gate without exiting the palace walls, before reaching the northern Golden Gate and the famous statue of Gregory of Nin. The tour then moves through the medieval streets of the old town toward People's Square and the nearby picturesque Fruit Square, concluding at the western edge of the historic center below Marmont Street. Visitors leave the tour with a deep understanding of how Diocletian's imperial palace gradually transformed into the vibrant Mediterranean city of Split and gain insight into the blend of Roman, medieval, and religious heritage that defines the city today.