The Iron Gate is the western entrance of Diocletian's Palace and the only one of the four original gates that has been continuously in use since the 4th century — the others were buried, walled up, or rebuilt during the medieval period. The gate opens onto Narodni Trg (People's Square, also called Pjaca), which became Split's civic centre when the palace expanded beyond its walls.
The Iron Gate incorporates the Church of Our Lady of the Belfry (Gospe od Zvonika) from the 11th century — the oldest Romanesque bell tower in Dalmatia — built into the original Roman gatehouse. The clock mounted above the gate still uses the original 24-hour Roman dial rather than the modern 12-hour format, a quirky survival that marks this as one of the few working Roman gates in the world.
Verified Facts
The Iron Gate has been continuously in use since the 4th century
The bell tower is the oldest Romanesque belfry in Dalmatia, dating to the 11th century
The clock uses a 24-hour Roman dial
Narodni Trg is also called Pjaca in local dialect
Get walking directions
Narodni trg, Grad, Split, 21000, Croatia
