Page 126 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

124  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Split
As well as Diocletian’s palace, Split has much in the way of
historical and artistic interest to offer. In the medieval period,
villages were built near the walls. When the city became
a free town, settlements became physically linked. The
present-day Braće Radić Square and the People’s Square were
built, along with the Cambi Palace and the Town Hall. After
1420, construction of the external defences began and town
walls were built. Between Split and Trogir, castles built for
defence against the Turks still survive.

R Church of St Francis
Sv. Frane
Trg Republike. n (021) 348 600 Distant Accords by Ivan Meštrović,
(tourist office). Open by appt. Meštrović Gallery
The church has been rebuilt
in recent times but the small E Meštrović Gallery
Romanesque-Gothic cloister, Galerija Meštrović
with thin columns enclosing Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 46. Tel (021)
a flower garden, is original. 340 800. Open May–Sep: 9am–7pm
The church, with mainly Tue–Sun; Oct–Apr: 9am–4pm Tue–
Baroque furnishings, has a Sat, 10am–3pm Sun. & - =
15th-century crucifix by Blaž ∑ mestrovic.hr
Juriev Trogiranin. It also houses The building housing this
the tombs of the city’s illustrious gallery was the residence of
citizens, including that of Ivan Meštrović in the early 1930s
Archdeacon Toma (the first (see p163). The sculptor himself
The 15th-century Marina Tower, built by Dalmatian historian), writer designed the building to be his
the Venetians Marko Marulić and the well- family house, studio and gallery.
known composer Ivan Lukačić. His sculptures, including Distant
P Braće Radić Square Accords and Persephone,
Trg braće Radić E Museum of Croatian decorate the garden and the
This medieval square is at the Archaeological Monuments interior. Among statues in
southwest corner of Diocletian’s Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških marble, wood and bronze are
Palace. The tall Marina Tower spomenika The Contemplation, The Vow and
(Hrvojeva kula) is the only Stjepana Gunjace bb. Tel (021) 323 Psyche. Part of the building still
evidence of the imposing 901. Open Jul & Aug: 9am–1pm, preserves the artist’s apartments.
castle built by the Venetians 5–8pm Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm Sat; Sep– The Kaštilac, further down
in the second half of the Jun: 9am–4pm Mon–Fri, 9am–1pm the road at No. 39, can be
Sat. Closed Sun, public hols.
15th century after the final 7 ^ ∑ mhas-split.hr visited with the same ticket. This
defeat of Split. Built on an 16th-century residence once
octagonal ground-plan, it Set up in 1975, this belonged to the Capogrosso-
stands on the southern museum houses finds from Kavanjin family and was bought
side of the square. the area around Split dating by Meštrović in 1939 to set up
On the northern side from the early Middle Ages. an exhibition hall. The artist also
is the Baroque Milesi The collection also includes built a small church here to
Palace, which dates from the works of early Croat exhibit a series of reliefs called
the 17th century. There sculptors, dating from 800. New Testament, now replaced
is also a work by Ivan The stone fragments, by a different work, the Author
Meštrović in the centre salvaged from churches of the Apocalypse.
of the square: the great Monument to Marko and castles, consist
monument to Marko Marulić mainly of tombs, capitals, E National Art Gallery
Marulić, the writer and altar fronts, ciboria and Galerija umjetnina
scholar (1450–1524) windows. Highlights include Ulica kralja Tomislava 15. Tel (021)
who was the founder Prince Višeslav’s hexagonal 350 110. Open mid-Jun–mid-Sep:
of literature in the Croatian baptismal font in marble, dating 10am–9pm Tue–Sun; mid-Sep–mid-
language. The imposing from the beginning of the 9th Jun: 10am–6pm Tue–Fri, 10am–2pm
bronze statue dedicated to century, and the sarcophagus Sat & Sun. Closed Sun, public hols.
the writer has an inscription of Queen Jelena (10th century), & 8 7 - = ∑ galum.hr
with some verses by the discovered in the ancient The gallery offers a broad
poet Tin Ujević. Roman city of Salona. overview of art in Split and the
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp228–30 and pp240–45

124-125_EW_Croatia.indd 124 20/10/16 12:31 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm