Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

CROATIA 469

Diocletian’s Emblem

After reorganizing the empire,

Emperor Diocletian sought

the spiritual unification of

its citizens. The state

religion, personified by

the emperor, grew steadily

in importance and

temples were constructed

bearing his image.

Golden Gate

The main entrance to

the palace, the Golden

Gate, facing Salona

(see pp470–71), was

the most imposing of

the gates, with twin

towers and numerous

decorations.

The Silver or

Eastern Gate

was a simpler

version of the

Golden Gate.

RECONSTRUCTION OF

DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE

The spectacular palace, shown

here in its original form, was laid out

in the same way as a Roman military

camp. It was 215-m (705-ft) long and

180-m (590-ft) wide and was enclosed by very

thick walls, at times 28-m (92-ft) high. The four-

sided stronghold was reinforced with towers on

the north, east and west sides. There is a gate

on each side, connected by two roads corre-

spond ing to the Roman Cardo and Decumanus.

. Cathedral of St Domnius
Originally Emperor Diocletian’s
mausoleum, the cathedral was consecrated
in the 7th century when the sarcophagus
containing the emperor’s body was removed.
The superb interior features Roman
columns and fine Romanesque carvings.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Nepotova 6. @ Palace

Basement # Apr–Sep: 8am–

8pm daily; Oct–Mar: 9am–noon

& 4pm–6pm daily. & Cathedral

of St Domnius # 7am–noon

& 5pm–7pm Mon–Sat. &

Temple of Jupiter # 7am–

noon & 5pm–7pm Mon–Sat. &

The Cardo was the main
street of the complex.

The Decumanus, a

transverse path, divided the

complex into two halves.