Split is the second largest city in Croatia, with just under 200,000 inhabitants, and is the largest city on the Adriatic coast. Emerging from a Greek settlement founded between the 3rd and 4th centuries, the height of Split's history came in 295 AD when Roman emperor Diocletian ordered a residence to be built there for his retirement. It took ten years to build this magnificent palace and Diocletian lived there until his death in 313 AD. Diocletian's Palace holds UNESCO World Heritage Status, and is one of the most important landmarks in Split.
Within the palace is the Peristyle - the main open space in the palace, surrounded by a colonnade of six columns to the eastern and western sides and an arch, decorated with garlands, in the centre. On the eastern side of the Peristyle is a cathedral, on the western side a Narodni trg ("People's Square") with the old town hall that was built in the 15th century. There is an ethnographic museum on the square that is worth visiting, and nearby is a city museum.
The GRJ choice of sights to visit was excellent, as were hotels. Our tour manager, Tim Neep, was THE BEST! He shepherded us professionally and cheerfully, kept personally connected to each and every one of us. He expertly handled an unforeseen train complication and a group member's serious fall. And he went beyond service in making sure we only two Americans, delayed by a long Immigration line, collected our bags at Gatwick Airport--after all the others were headed home--and got us to a taxi.