Today, we arrived at our first port of call in Croatia, the historic town of Split, a busy harbor today. Like many medieval Dalmatian port towns, it was ruled by Venice for centuries. Unlike its contemporaries though, it developed within the palatial compound of Roman Emperor Diocletian. Our morning excursion takes us through the subterranean vaults, colonnaded peristyles, and splendid city gates of the fascinating site, a palimpsest of over 1,700 years of history. Free time on such a bright sunny day leads some to the beach, while others explore the narrow-shaded passageways throughout the town.
Our afternoon excursion to Trogir, Croatia’s first ever UNESCO Heritage Site, presents a different character. Situated on an islet separated from the mainland by a narrow channel, Trogir’s network of narrow streets zigzag through the old town, similar in appearance to Split but on a smaller scale. The town cathedral, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, has some of the best-preserved 13th century Romanesque-Gothic sculptures in Europe. The 15th century Kamerlengo Castle looms over the waterfront to the south, another relic of the Venetian era of dominance over the Dalmatian Coast.
