Walking tour of Split with an Art Historian: 1700 years decoded

Two hours inside 1700 years: the Palace, the Cathedral's origins, and why a 57-centimeter street matters

A walking tour of Split's historic center led by Josipa, a licensed art historian and local guide, through Diocletian's Palace, its gates and courtyards, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and the Temple of Jupiter. The tour stays under ten people and runs about two hours, moving at a relaxed pace through the Roman palace's layout and the stories layered into its stones, from the Emperor's quarters to the narrowest street in the city. No museums or paid sites are entered. The guide shares recommendations for exploring further on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Gregory of Nin5m
2. Peristyle Square10m
3. Gates of Diocletian's Palace5m
4. Cathedral of Saint Domnius5m
5. Temple of Jupiterpassing by
6. Riva Promenade5m

Explore historic Split with an art historian

• Meet at Strossmayer Park fountain
• Learn about Split's water history
• Travel 1,700 years into the past
• Visit Gregory of Nin statue
• Enter Palace at Golden/Northern Gate
• Walk along Cardo street to Peristyle
• Explore hidden garden in Diocletian's Palace
• Stop at Iron Gate and hear its story
• Stroll Decumanus to Peristyle Square
• Discover secret detour east of Peristyle
• Learn about Cathedral of Saint Domnius (outside)
• Pass by Temple of Jupiter
• See one of the narrowest streets
• Pause at Vestibule for photos and singing
• Take shortcut through substructures to Riva waterfront
• Walk along Riva promenade to Fruit Square
• Review Split's layout at Old Town model
• Receive local tips for further exploration

The experience

You meet at Strossmayer Park next to the central fountain, where Josipa begins with water. The thing that has kept the Palace alive for seventeen centuries. From there, the tour moves through the Gregory of Nin statue, a seven-meter bronze by Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, and into the Palace itself through the Golden Gate. The route follows the Cardo Maximus, the main Roman street running north to south, which leads to the Peristyle: the monumental open court at the heart of the ancient complex. Along the way, Josipa unpacks the history of each gate, each passageway and each shift in the stone, so the Palace stops being a backdrop and becomes a map of how Split evolved from a Roman Emperor's retreat into a living city.

The Peristyle is where the Cathedral of Saint Domnius stands: originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperor, later repurposed as a Christian cathedral. You won't enter (it's a paid site and not included), but Josipa explains the transformation and the architectural details visible from outside. Nearby, the Temple of Jupiter sits as one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world. Robert Adam, an 18th-century Scottish architect, once called it one of Europe's most beautiful monuments. The tour also passes through a hidden garden in the Palace's northwestern corner, crosses the Iron Gate (the city's "platinum" gate, as locals call it), and takes a shortcut through the substructures, the underground chambers beneath the Palace, to reach the Riva waterfront. That passage shows the shift from the vibrant Peristyle to the darker, quieter archaeological layers below before emerging onto the bustling seaside promenade.

One stop is a street less than ten meters long and only 57 centimeters wide, recognized as one of the narrowest in the world. It holds a place in local memory and carries its own public monument elsewhere in the city. The Vestibule, once the entry to the Emperor's quarters, is now an open-air gathering spot where traditional klapa singing sometimes echoes off the stone. At the end, Josipa shares honest local recommendations (favorite spots, places to eat, corners most tourists miss), so you can keep exploring like someone who lives here. The group stays small, capped at ten people, and the pace is relaxed. The tour runs rain or shine.

What’s included

• Your licensed local guide Josipa, who leads every tour personally.
• a small group of no more than ten people.
• a relaxed two-hour walk through the Palace's gates, courtyards, streets and the waterfront.
• honest local recommendations at the end for exploring Split on your own.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Croatian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Aspalathos Guided Tours

Is this one for you?Most Split walking tours move fast through the same landmarks and leave you with a list of names. This one slows down and explains the Palace's layout, the stories layered into each gate and courtyard, and why the city grew the way it did, so you understand what you're standing in front of, not just where to point a camera.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Croatian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What is Diocletian's Palace and why does the tour spend so much time there?

Diocletian's Palace is a Roman imperial palace built around 300 AD by the Emperor Diocletian. It sits at the heart of Split's Old Town and is so well-preserved that the city grew up inside and around it. The tour traces its layout (the gates, the main streets, the Peristyle courtyard and the substructures) to show how the Palace's architecture shaped Split's evolution from a Roman retreat into a Mediterranean city.

Does the tour go inside the Cathedral or the Temple of Jupiter?

No. The Cathedral of Saint Domnius and the Temple of Jupiter are viewed from outside. The tour does not enter any museums or paid sites. Josipa explains their history and architecture from the exterior, but if you want to step inside either one, that's a separate visit and cost.

How long is the tour and what is the pace like?

The tour runs about two hours at a relaxed pace. It covers a lot of ground (the Palace's gates, courtyards, streets and the waterfront), but the speed is set for a small group of up to ten people to absorb the stories and details without rushing.

Who is the guide and what makes this tour different from other walking tours in Split?

Josipa is a licensed art historian and the owner of Aspalathos Guided Tours. She personally leads every tour. Unlike a typical sightseeing tour, this one focuses on the stories, hidden details and deeper meaning behind the landmarks. The reasons things are built the way they are, how the city transformed over centuries, and the cultural significance locals attach to places most visitors pass through without understanding.

Can I bring my dog on the tour?

Yes, if you arrange it beforehand. Josipa is a dog owner herself and welcomes dogs, but contact the tour operator before booking so she can check that all guests are comfortable with a dog present.