Split - Trogir, Croatia
This morning was spent exploring a number of stone vestiges of Split's past. One of the highlights was a visit to the fourth century AD Christian necropolis known as Manastrine which lies amongst the Roman ruins of Salona. Founded more than 2,000 years ago on the site of a small port controlled by the Illyrian tribe of Delmati, the settlement grew massively and at it's height had an estimated population of 60,000 inhabitants. Its most notable Roman ruler was the emperor Diocletian who persecuted early followers of Christ. He was the one responsible for the martyrdom of the Salonian Church Bishop St. Domnio and his followers in 304 AD. Loyal supporters managed to bury them in secret and the place where they rested quickly became a place of worship. Over the years the surrounding ground was used for Christian burial and it is estimated that the site once held in excess of 2,000 sarcophaguses. Leaving the necropolis, we went to have an overview of part of the Roman ruined town that was once a thriving centre of trade and commerce. This is a most impressive site. At the height of it's power the surrounding defensive wall had a total of 90 sentry towers and an amphitheatre which held 18,000 spectators.
The remainder of the morning was spent at the site of the Diocletian Palace which was constructed in the early 4th century AD on part of the site now occupied by modern Split. Very little of the original structures remain save for the impressive extensive basement area.
During lunch, we repositioned to Trogir, a small island a short distance from Split. This is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Town. Our guides met us on the quay side as we arrived by Zodiac and then took us on a walking tour to gain an insight into this charming little town. The Greeks initially established a settlement here around 300 BC. Stone quarries to exploit the local Cretaceous limestone were later set up by the Romans, and the town even had a famous stone cutting school by the thirteenth century. It was, however, the Venetians in the fifteenth century who left an indelible architectural mark here. Much of the defensive wall with two imposing gates survives, and the enclosed settlement is an array of narrow paved laneways and multiple storied stone block houses.
This morning was spent exploring a number of stone vestiges of Split's past. One of the highlights was a visit to the fourth century AD Christian necropolis known as Manastrine which lies amongst the Roman ruins of Salona. Founded more than 2,000 years ago on the site of a small port controlled by the Illyrian tribe of Delmati, the settlement grew massively and at it's height had an estimated population of 60,000 inhabitants. Its most notable Roman ruler was the emperor Diocletian who persecuted early followers of Christ. He was the one responsible for the martyrdom of the Salonian Church Bishop St. Domnio and his followers in 304 AD. Loyal supporters managed to bury them in secret and the place where they rested quickly became a place of worship. Over the years the surrounding ground was used for Christian burial and it is estimated that the site once held in excess of 2,000 sarcophaguses. Leaving the necropolis, we went to have an overview of part of the Roman ruined town that was once a thriving centre of trade and commerce. This is a most impressive site. At the height of it's power the surrounding defensive wall had a total of 90 sentry towers and an amphitheatre which held 18,000 spectators.
The remainder of the morning was spent at the site of the Diocletian Palace which was constructed in the early 4th century AD on part of the site now occupied by modern Split. Very little of the original structures remain save for the impressive extensive basement area.
During lunch, we repositioned to Trogir, a small island a short distance from Split. This is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Town. Our guides met us on the quay side as we arrived by Zodiac and then took us on a walking tour to gain an insight into this charming little town. The Greeks initially established a settlement here around 300 BC. Stone quarries to exploit the local Cretaceous limestone were later set up by the Romans, and the town even had a famous stone cutting school by the thirteenth century. It was, however, the Venetians in the fifteenth century who left an indelible architectural mark here. Much of the defensive wall with two imposing gates survives, and the enclosed settlement is an array of narrow paved laneways and multiple storied stone block houses.
