Split

Situated on the eastern Adriatic Sea, Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and a dynamic coastal metropolis. Comprising around 178,000 people, this ancient city is the biggest urban centre in the Dalmatia area and a lighthouse of cultural and commercial value on the Croatian coast. Covering a central peninsula and its environs, Split’s strategic location has made it an intraregional transit hub and a highly sought-after tourist attraction, drawing around 900,000 tourists a year.

The Greeks originally established the colony of Aspálathos in the third or second century BCE, and Split’s roots stretch back thousands of years. But the city gained actual historical importance in 305 CE when the Roman ruler Diocletian built his palace here. Later on, this massive construction would constitute the centre of the mediaeval city, influencing Split’s urban scene for millennia to come. For Split, the collapse of surrounding Salona, the historic capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, in the 7th century CE signalled a sea change. Roman refugees took cover behind the formidable walls of Diocletian’s Palace when Salona fell to the invasions of Avars and Slavs, therefore turning the palace into a vibrant urban community.

During the Middle Ages, Split’s political allegiance changed to reflect several powers. Originally a Byzantine city, it first wandered into the Republic of Venice’s zone of influence and then into the Kingdom of Croatia’s. Constantly negotiating the convoluted political terrain of the area, Split emerged as one of the independent Dalmatian city-states throughout this era. The city’s strategic relevance made it a sought-after prize in the continuous conflict between Venice and Croatia over the Dalmatian coast.

Venice’s ultimate triumph ushered in a new age for Split. The city developed under Venetian control into a highly fortified stronghold serving as a bulwark of Christian Europe against the invading Ottoman Empire. This time of Venetian rule permanently changed Split’s architecture, culture, and economy, hence forming its reputation as a Mediterranean trade centre. Expanding Split’s hinterland, the Morean War of 1699 reversed Ottoman territory and confirmed Split’s status as a major Venetian holding.

In the late 18th century, the political scene of Split saw major changes. The 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio handed authority of the city to the Habsburg Monarchy when the Venetian Republic collapsed under Napoleonic onslaught. This sparked a turbulent period that was characterized by quick changes in government. Split was temporarily under the authority of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1805, then included into the French Empire the following year. The Peace of Pressburg brought Split into the briefly French client state known as the Illyrian Provinces in 1809.

As part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Split found itself under Austrian control as the Congress of Vienna in 1815 changed the political terrain of Europe. This period of Austrian rule ran until the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, at which point Yugoslavia was born. Further political upheavals accompanied the 20th century; Split saw Italian occupation during World War II, and then Partisan troops liberated it. Until Croatia’s declaration of independence in 1991 during the Yugoslav Wars, the city’s post-war history was defined by its incorporation in communist Yugoslavia as part of the Croatian republic.

Split is today a city of contrasts where modernism and old history entwine. Once a powerhouse of Yugoslav industry, Split’s economy has changed greatly since the country adopted a market economy. Once spanning shipbuilding, food processing, chemical manufacture, and textiles, the city’s industrial base has declined greatly. Split, on the other hand, has shown fortitude in adjusting to the new economic reality and emphasises business, services, and tourism as main engines of development.

Still a symbol of Split’s industrial legacy and promise, Brodosplit is the biggest shipyard in Croatia. Employing over 2,300 workers, it has built more than 350 vessels—from tankers and cargo ships to submarines and patrol boats. The shipyard’s ability to sell 80% of its output to foreign contractors demonstrates its competitiveness in the international market.

Completing the A1 motorway in 2005 was a major turning point in Split’s infrastructure development since it more tightly linked the city with Croatia’s national highway system. This better connection has spurred economic growth and drawn new companies to the city core and growing suburbs. Although several historic businesses—especially in food production, paper manufacture, and chemicals—have seen some partial comeback, the city’s economic emphasis has clearly turned to the service sector and tourism.

Central to Split’s economic plan is its function as a transit hub for Dalmatia and the larger area. Handling 4 million people yearly and acting as a vital link to the central Dalmatian islands, the city’s port is the third busiest in the Mediterranean. With over 260,000 passengers annually from over 260,000 ship trips to the city, the expanding cruise ship sector has added even more to Split’s nautical importance.

Serving 2.89 million passengers in 2021, the Split Airport, situated in adjacent Kaštela, ranks as Croatia’s second-largest air transportation hub. Split’s expanding network of domestic and international ties has increased its allure as a tourist destination. Run by Promet Split, the city’s public transport system offers thorough bus services over the urban area and its environs, considering the difficult, steep terrain that prevents the growth of a tram network.

With the strategically placed railway station servicing both long-distance and commuter services, rail connectivity enhances Split’s transport system. While seasonal international rail services link Split to locations as far-flung as Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava, the Split Suburban Railway connects the city centre to Kaštel Stari, promoting regional transportation.