Salona

Not far from modern-day Split, in Solina, Croatia, lie the ruins of one of the most important Roman cities on the Adriatic – Salona. It was here that the administrative, economic, and religious heart of the Roman province of Dalmatia beat for centuries.

Salona was originally founded as an Illyrian settlement and later developed under Greek influence. After the Roman conquest, the city quickly rose to prominence. In the 1st century BCE, likely during the reign of Julius Caesar, it was granted the status of a Roman colony under the name Colonia Martia Iulia Salona. It soon became the capital of the province of Dalmatia and one of the largest cities on the eastern Adriatic coast.

At its peak, Salona had a population of around 50,000-60,000. The city possessed all the hallmarks of a significant center of the Roman Empire: a forum, temples, thermal baths, an aqueduct, a theater, and a monumental amphitheater that could accommodate several thousand spectators. The preserved city walls, with their numerous gates and towers, demonstrate the power of Salona.

The city achieved particular importance during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who was born in this area. After his abdication in 305 CE, the city was rebuilt. He built a monumental palace in nearby Split, which eventually became the nucleus of the modern city.

Salona also played a significant role in the history of early Christianity. It was the seat of a bishopric, and one of its most famous bishops was St. Domnius, a martyr executed during the persecution of Diocletian in 304 CE. After the persecution ended, numerous basilicas and Christian cemeteries were built around the graves of the martyrs.

The city’s decline came in the 7th century, when invasions by Avars and Slavs led to its destruction. The surviving residents took refuge behind the walls of Diocletian’s Palace in Split, contributing to the development of the new urban center.

Today, Salona is the largest archaeological park in Croatia. Among the ruins, one can see the remains of an amphitheater, basilicas, city walls, and early Christian necropolises. This place allows you to imagine the scale and importance of the city, which for centuries was one of the most important centers of Roman Dalmatia.