Ancient Salona: Where Gargoyles Go to Die

Member of our tour tries out a grave at ancient Salona

If there was ever a place that gargoyles would prefer to die, it would be the ancient city of Salona. I went there on a tour that included ancient Salona and medieval Trogir while cruising on the Norwegian Jade. Founded by the Romans and very close to Diocletian's Palace at Split, Croatia, the ancient city is amazingly well preserved. It had all the requisite Roman city items: walls, a forum, a theater and an amphitheater. But what makes this site so wonderful is the amount of preservation. After having been to Olympus, Greece where all the good stuff is in the museum, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the ruins in their natural state.

Map of the ancient Salona site

Well preserved Ancient Salona near Split, Croatia

Ancient Salona became the capital of the Roman Province of Dalmatia, according to Wikipedia. More information on this gargoyle-inspired and spiritual place can be found here. We spent about an hour walking around. 

Detail of the ruins at Ancient Salona

I could have taken a few more hours without the other tourists. We had a unique crowd on our tour bus, a large group of retired military and their wives. They fought over seats on the bus like we were going to war. It was embarrassing the way they hogged the front seats.

Our group including retired military men and their wives

But the place was awesome and I just did what I always do, made the most of it. 

Graffiti at Split, Croatia

Graffiti at Split

I was so torn before I left on my trip that I would have enough time to see all that Split, Croatia had to offer. I had a tour out of town to visit an ancient site and a medieval city. Both were great and I will report on those later, but my concern was to get back to see Split.

More graffiti at Split

I had time luckily to get a quick walk around the Diocletian Palace, but it really was not what I expected. Split is filled with so much graffiti, it is hard to appreciate the Roman Emporer's Palace, which by the way, is all underneath the town. It is nothing like Dubrovnik, which is beautiful and graffiti-free.

Split graffiti

Graffiti on every downtown buildng at Split

I can appreciate what I call urban wall art, but what was at Split was really not appealing. The sad thing is it is everywhere. Split is a pretty large city and has the look of urban poverty I find so sad. Lots of people with troubled faces patiently waiting for buses was the common theme all around Split.

But I loved Dubrovnik even more than the first time. Go figure!

Split About Split (Croatia)

Diocletian Palace street at Split from Wikipedia

It's about time I finally got down to checking out the areas of my cruise next month. I already signed up for excursions, and honestly I am really glad I did, as most of them are already closed out. It will probably be a big free-for-all on the Norwegian Jade the first day trying to sort out everybody's shore excursions. 

One place I was really happy to get away from and see some medieval towns was Split, Croatia. Little did I realize the town itself has so much to offer. The Diocletian Palace, built at the turn of the 4th century by Roman Emporer Diocletian, looks spectacular. I found some photos on Wikipedia today that blew me away. Gargoyles would sure be comfortable here!

So I got out my cruise docs, checked the time of my tour and lo and behold, we get back to Split early enough, I should be able to do a private trip to see the Palace. Those are usually the best parts of my days. Traveling solo can make visits to places by myself a little daunting, but by going with a group in the morning, I usually befriend some kind soul who is willing to trek around the town with me in the afternoon. That is my hope.

Spinx in Split from Wikipedia

There is an underground area of the Diocletian Palace that looks like it has great shopping as well.

Underground the Diocletian Palace from Wikipedia

More information on this magnificent Palace can be found on Wikipedia here.

Hopefully I will get to see Ancient Salona, Medieval Trogir and the Diocletian Palace at Split all in one day. Gargoyles, here I come!