Now
split, croatia
croatIa: sPlit Decisions
A look at luxe living along Croatia’s
Dalmation Coast
t
luxury,
so it’s no surprise they found the
landscapes, burgeoning wine
production and all the must-
haves of a Mediterranean diet to
be attractive lures when they arrived on
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. As my coach
tour heads south along the coast, tour
director Karin Kollarova sums up the
essence of the destination: “Croatia is
a great example of the mixture of past
influences from so many neighbouring
nations, which makes it such a fasci-
nating country to explore.”
The cornerstone in my weeklong tour
of this eclectic country is Split, the larg-
est city of the Dalmatian Coast. It dates
back to the Greeks, who established the
colony of Aspalathos in the sixth cen-
tury BC. The Romans later created the
Province of Dalmatia, and Emperor
Diocletian, who ruled from AD 284 to
305, chose to retire here.
Diocletian built his palace on the
waterfront at the beginning of the
fourth century. Today, his home in Old
Town Split is one of the best-preserved
Roman structures, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and the heart of the
Riva area of the old city. The palace’s
34
he roMAns loved their
Spring 2018
AMA inSider
underground complex is a series of
rooms that once stored food and wine,
but we see that some parts have been
made into homes. Our guide tells us
that, in later centuries, locals moved in
and parts were also used to store water
for Old Town Split. Today, TV fans flock
here as it’s a filming location for Game
of Thrones.
In the palace court, we gaze at the
soaring bell tower and snap photos
of one of Diocletian’s favourite sculp-
tures: a metre-high Egyptian sphinx.
Now known as the Cathedral of Saint
Dominus, the emperor’s former
mausoleum was consecrated in the
seventh century, and is considered
to be the oldest Catholic cathedral
in the world, retaining most of its
original structure without any major
renovations to date.
Time has transformed the Old Town,
as locals moved within the palace walls.
Cobblestone corridors are now a maze
of boutiques, cafés, studios and souve-
nir shops. The buildings are made from
Croatian limestone—the material of
choice for centuries, as it’s easy to cut
and has a luminous white shade. Often
referred to as the gold standard of
building materials, Croatian limestone
was used extensively in Venice and even
in the White House in Washington, DC.
When planning your visit, try to visit
in July when the average temperature
is 28 C—perfect for leisurely lunches on
sunny terraces.
My group finds a corner table on
one of Old Town’s picturesque patios.
After ordering a bottle of Plavac Mali,
Croatia’s rich red wine varietal, we
offer up a toast to this country, which
presents palate-pleasing vintages, a
wealth of European history and a taste
of Dalmatian hospitality. Paradise in
the 21st century. —Waheeda Harris
SEE IT WITH
AMA
croaTia’s cEnTral coasT
pereGrine
This 8-day cruise departs
from split aboard a small
ship with 40 or so other
travellers. The yacht
docks each evening so
you can dine ashore in
ports like Trogir, knornati
and zadar, to sample
croatian cuisine and
wine. cruise includes
7 nights on-board
accommodation, port
activities, daily breakfast,
5 lunches and 4 dinners.
From $2,750/person (cruise only)
July & auGust departures
FliGhts From $1,597/person
call a cruise specialist
1-866-989-6594
Williams/alamy
Where
to Go