ABSTRACT
The Diocletian palace was probably constructed between 295 and 305 ce on the peninsula in the bay just south of Salona. The palace was a remarkable piece of architecture, including several separate buildings and outstanding sculptural work and mosaics. The rectangular plan of the complex can be compared to traditional Roman military camps, but the interior layout is completely different in order to allow more luxurious imperial living. When Split in the twelfth century became an independent commune, the city plan changed drastically because of new constructions that densified the fabric and narrowed existing streets and squares to the minimum. The Diocletion palace, embedded in the historical centre of Split is the best preserved Roman imperial palace. In spite of the seventeen-century-long transformation of the original architectural structures of the palace, some segments and architectural wholes are perfectly preserved and contribute a unique wealth to the world’s cultural heritage.
