Did you know that you could take a medieval tour of the northern wall of Diocletian’s palace?
If not, you’re not alone, and according to Slobodona Dalmacija on April 9, 2017, only 53 people knew that this was possible last year!
The tour, which is hosted by the Museum of Split, takes visitors along the preserved 170-meter northern wall of Diocletian’s palace, an integral part of defense processions of the city.
From information provided by Croatia Tickets, the promenade begins from the northwest tower and leads tourists over the defensive walls of Diocletian’s Palace. The central part of the promenade provides a special view on the defensive courtyard inside the Golden Gate. The walk ends in the eastern part which is original from the 4th century.
Through this tour, visitors are able to gain insight into the development of this part of the city - starting from the original state of the palace, through the establishment of the medieval processions of its perimeter walls, and through the changes during the Baroque period of the 19th century to today.
After years of construction and a 2.1 million HRK investment, the walls first opened at the end of 2014. Ivica Profaca, a writer for Total Split, was among the first to visit the walls back in December 2014, and even wrote that this tour might become the most popular tour in Split! But unfortunately, still very few people even know that this is possible.
To put an emphasis on just how few people know about this premiere tourist attraction? The Museum of Split sold only 53 tickets last year, earning a disappointing 2,120 HRK. So, why isn't it?
For those who are interested in taking this tour, it’s not as easy as just showing up. Interested parties must inform the Museum of Split the day before they would like to take the tour to ensure there is a guide available. The minimum number of participants must be 5, and the maximum 10. And the price? For adults is 42 HRK and children 22 HRK. Before the summer season, the tour is only possible from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 provided that the group is no larger than 10 people.
In comparison, the substructure (or cellar) of Diocletian's Palace was visited by a total of 273,646 visitors in 2016, of which 261,140 tickets were collected. Total revenues amounted to 8.08 million HRK last year.
While there doesn't seem to be much of a catch other than planning a bit ahead, getting to experience the palace from above is set up to be a sure winner.
If you're interested in joining this tour and telling your friends, you can find more information on the Museum of Split website.
