Page 125 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

SPLIT  123

R Cathedral of St Domnius
Katedrala sv. Duje
Kraj sv. Duje 5. Tel (021) 345 602.
Open Jun–Aug: 8am–sunset daily;
Sep–May: 9am–noon, 4:30–
7:30pm daily.
Originally the mausoleum of
the emperor Diocletian, the
cathedral was consecrated
in the 7th century when the
sarcophagus containing the
Portrait of Diocletian body of Diocletian was
After reorganizing the empire, removed and replaced, with
the emperor sought the spiritual a certain poetic justice, by
unification of its citizens. The the remains of St Domnius
state religion, personified by the (locally St Duje), a 3rd-century
emperor, gained in importance, bishop martyred as part of
and temples were constructed Diocletian’s persecution of
bearing his image. Christians the early Christians. It was the
were subject to extremely archbishop of Split at the
violent persecution.
time who transformed the The 13th-century hexagonal pulpit,
mausoleum into a Christian Cathedral of St Domnius
The Golden Gate, facing church, and St Domnius
Salona, was the main entrance became the city’s patron saint. columns, most of them the
to the palace. This was the
most imposing of the The structure is widely Roman originals; above these is
gates with two towers regarded as the oldest Catholic a frieze decorated with scenes
and many decorations. cathedral in the world that has of Eros hunting, supporting
not been substantially rebuilt medallions with portraits of
at any time. Since being Diocletian and his wife Prisca.
first built it has remained In the second niche on the
practically unaltered right, with frescoes dating
except for the from 1428, is the Altar of
construction of a St Domnius, the work of
Romanesque bell Bonino of Milan (1427). The
tower (12th–16th wooden choir stalls in the
centuries) and the addition of 17th-century presbytery are
the 13th-century choir inside. an example of Romanesque
An ancient sphinx in black carving from the beginning
granite rests at the foot of the of the 13th century.
bell tower. The entrance To the side is a chapel
doorway has wooden panels housing the Altar of St
from 1214, with scenes from Anastasius, designed in 1448
the Gospel in floral frames. by Juraj Dalmatinac. The niche
The Silver Gate, or The cathedral, built on an after this was altered in the
eastern gate, was a octagonal ground-plan, has a 18th century to create the
simpler copy of the
Golden Gate. double order of Corinthian Baroque chapel of St Domnius.
The 13th-century hexagonal
pulpit is supported by thin
Reconstruction of columns with carved capitals.
Diocletian’s Palace The 14th-century building
The palace, shown here in its behind the cathedral houses
original form, was like a typical the sacristy and the name of
Roman military camp. It was one of the architects, Filotas, is
215 m (705 ft) long and 180 m inscribed by the entrance. In
(590 ft) wide and was enclosed the sacristy, now the Cathedral
by very thick walls, at times Museum, are many works of
28 m (92 ft) high. The four-sided art, including objects in gold
stronghold was reinforced with and silver, ancient manu scripts,
towers on the north, east and medieval icons and vestments.
west sides. There is a gate on Of particular importance
each side, connected by two are the Historia Saloniana
roads corresponding to the written by Arch deacon Toma
Roman Cardo and Decumanus. Detail of the Altar of St Anastasius, in the 13th century and a
Cathedral of St Domnius 7th-century Gospel.

122-123_EW_Croatia.indd 123 20/10/16 12:31 pm