Overlooking the Adriatic Sea and backed by the rugged Dinaric Mountains, this splendid Dalmatian city resembles a living museum. Ancient Roman architecture forms a backdrop to modern-day life, with boutiques displaying imported designer wear and cafes playing techno amid the stones of an imperial palace.

Split was founded when Diocletian built his retirement home here in AD 295. Born in nearby Salona, this able soldier went on to rule the Roman Empire for two decades. When the palace was complete, he resigned and withdrew to his native Dalmatia where he spent his final years.

In the seventh century, when tribes of Avars and Slavs rampaged through the region, the people of Salona took refuge within the abandoned palace, turning it into a town in its own right. By the 11th century, the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.

As a port town, under Venice (1420-1797), Split enjoyed prosperity and cultural development, as can be seen from the gothic, Renaissance and baroque buildings from that period. With the fall of Venice, the city passed to Austro-Hungary.

After WWII, as part of Yugoslavia, industrialisation brought urban expansion and high-rise suburbs. Sports flourished: Hajduk football club, basketball players Tony Kokoc, Jan Tabak and Dino Radja, plus tennis champions Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic are all from Split.

Today, as the main gateway to Dalmatia, with an international airport, daily ferries from Italy and local boat services to the nearby islands, Split is an important tourist destination. The historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is Croatia’s largest base for charter companies hiring sailing boats.