The Cathedral of St. Domnius is built inside Diocletian's octagonal mausoleum — making it one of the oldest cathedral buildings in the world and the only one that was originally a Roman emperor's tomb. Diocletian, who persecuted Christians more brutally than any other Roman emperor, would be horrified to know that his mausoleum now houses the relics of St. Domnius (the Christian bishop he had executed) and serves as the spiritual centre of the community that his palace was built to dominate.
The cathedral's 57-metre bell tower (Romanesque at the base, Gothic above, rebuilt several times since the 13th century) is Split's most visible landmark and provides the best aerial view of the palace complex. The climb (200+ steps, narrow and steep near the top) rewards with a view straight down into the Peristyle and across the palace's rooftops.
Verified Facts
The cathedral is built inside Diocletian's octagonal mausoleum
The bell tower is 57 metres tall
Diocletian persecuted Christians during his reign
St. Domnius was a bishop executed by Diocletian
Get walking directions
Peristyle, Diocletian's Palace, Split
