The Most Impressive Buildings in Split, Croatia

As your boat pulls into Split, the most notable landmark as you look over from the harbour to the historic centre is the bell tower of Saint Domnius. Built in a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles reflecting its centuries-long construction after the 1200s, the tower owes its current look to a 1908 restoration. The Cathedral, created as the mausoleum for the Emperor Diocletian, is somewhat more conservative in style. Today’s visitor may climb the tower’s six storeys for a panoramic view of Split, the harbour and Adriatic beyond.

The Poljud is more than just the main football stadium in Split. Overlooking the Adriatic, it was created by architect Boris Magaš as a futuristic arena worthy of staging the Mediterranean Games of 1979. He and his team worked night and day to complete this masterwork, inspired by the outdoor theatres of Classical Greece and fashioned in the form of a seashell. Nearly 40 years after its construction, the Poljud remains an innovative and striking piece of stadium architecture. Magaš may not, however, have envisioned his creation being used for a three-day techno festival, Ultra Europe.