About 34 years ago I felt a need for a quick vacation. I had seen an advertisement in the Times by a travel agency that specialized in trips and cruises behind the Iron Curtain. I was interested in a cruise along Yugoslavia's Adriatic coast, and the cost of this one was unbeatable. The story of that trip would make several columns by itself and some day you can read it.
One of the main inducements for that cruise was that besides two days in one of our favorite cities, Venice, the Atlas called at Split in what is now Croatia. The main attraction to visit Split was the site of Emperor Diocletian"s palace,which in 1979 along with old Split became a world heritage site. To make a short story longer, the cruise ship Atlas docked near the "Riva" promenade.
After entering through a gate in the remnants of the City Wall, Helen and I wandered for well over an hour seeking the "Palace" among the many standing ruins from earlier times. Suddenly the truth struck and was later confirmed by reading a guide book. We had been walking in the Palace from the time we had passed through the gate. The old city was built within the walls of the Palace.
Diocletian was one of the military Roman Emperors. He had been born in Dalmatia (modern Croatia). Between 298 and 305 he had constructed his palace in this spot away from the then capital, Ravenna.
On seizing power he had chosen another army general to be his co-senior Emperor and later added two more as "junior co-emperors. The four ruled specific portions of the empire and there was a period of relative peace and prosperity. He was a pagan and did permit one of the last Roman persecutions of Christians
The first picture shows an excursion ship at dock in Split. In the middle is the medieval bell tower,part of St Dujes church which in part incorporated an old Roman temple.
This is one of the two sphinxes that Diocletian had taken from Egypt.
One of the "gates" into the old city. A large flea market is adjacent to the entrance.
Standing ruins from the palace, in the Peristull Square
Another street near Peristull Square leading to one of the other four gates.
Hey Doc,
ReplyDeleteYour memory about your vacations is simply amazing!