Framedlight

We spent the night in Split and got up early the next morning to explore the town in daylight. Anne was really pleased that a large market had overtaken the city. The fish market was taking place in part in the open, underneath a shelter, and in part in an impressive hall. We saw the rather graphic signs in a small alley!

While we were looking around the market we ventured into the hinterland of the Diocletian Palace and visited the Cathedral. Strangely enough it was originally built as Diocletian's mausoleum which is almost perfectly preserved as an octagonal building with a round domed roof supported by two rows of Corinthian columns. The frieze around the roof shows the Emperor and his wife, and the exterior is encircled by 24 columns. Ironically Diocletian led a vigorous persecution of the Christians. His body was removed in the 7the century and has disappeared. In the 17th century a choir was added to one side. The sphinx stands guard over the Temple of Jupiter. The end pictures are a few views of the town.

After looking round the fish market and all of it's variety, we walked outside to the very large fruit and vegetable market. Here we went to the massive extravagance of buying some walnuts which we used for our lunchtime dessert. The colour and bustle of the market were wonderful.

We eventually found the place where we were staying in Split and left the car in a small parking area outside. We had picked it as it was close to the waterfront and heart of the city, so as soon as we had got our stuff in from the car we walked down to the sea. The sunset was fairly mediocre and the promenade not that interesting, but on the landward side lies an absolute gem. The Roman emperor Diocletian (AD 246-313) had his retirement palace built here, and it is no mean edifice, stretching for hundreds of feet parallel to the shore. At one time the sea would have lapped at it's base but now it is a little distance away with a quay and road lined with cafés, between them.We walked along the prom and then went into the palace. The palace formed the centre of the medieval city, with shops springing up amidst the Roman columns and walls, and it is still this way. The giant vaulted cellars underneath the edifice can be visited and we did this first. I had plucked up cou...