Split - Cathedral of Saint Domnius

Split, the largest city of Dalmatia, was (just like neighbouring Trogir) as the Greek colony in the 4th century BC. Roman emperor Diocletian had a palace built as a retirement residence near Salona, the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia at that time.

After the Romans abandoned the site, the Palace remained empty for several centuries, but when Salona was sacked by Avars and Slavs in the 7th century, the walled Palace of Diocletian was settled by refugees from Salona.

Since the the palace has been occupied, with residents making their homes and businesses within the palace basement and directly in its walls. Today the remains of the palace form about half the old town and city center of Split.

In 1979 the historic center of Split was included into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The Cathedral of Saint Domnius ("Katedrala Svetog Duje") is in the center of ancient Diocletian's Palace. The octogonal building was erected in the early 4th century as Emperor Diocletian's mausoleum. Today this church is the seat of the archbishop of the archdiocese of Split-Makarska - and one of the oldest cathedrals worldwide.

Right under the rotunda is the old circular crypt. As this crypt was the most sacred part of the mausoleum, not accessible to anybody, some scholars belive, that the sacrophagus of Emperor Diocletion once was placed in here.

In medieval times the crypt was dedicated to Saint Lucy ("Lucia of Syracuse"). Lucy -> Lux -> Light. No wonder, that Lucy was the protector of eye sight. As a patron saint for the blind, many pilgrims came to the crypt to use the healing waters from the well.