Hotels near Cathedral of Saint Domnius

The Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Katedrala svetog Duje) sits at the eastern side of the Peristyle and is among the most extraordinary things to do in Split for anyone interested in Roman or Christian architecture. Built originally around AD 305 as the octagonal mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian - the very emperor who ordered the last great Roman persecution of Christians - the building was converted into a cathedral in the 7th century and dedicated to Saint Domnius (Sveti Duje), a Christian bishop Diocletian had executed at Salona in 304. The result is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world still in use in its original structure.

A combined cathedral ticket (around 7 to 10 EUR in 2026) gives access to the cathedral interior, the crypt of Saint Lucy beneath, the Romanesque bell tower (60 metres tall, climbed via 183 steps), and the treasury. The wooden Buvina doors of 1214 depict 28 scenes from the life of Christ, and the high altar's Romanesque hexagonal pulpit and 13th-century choir stalls are some of the finest medieval carvings on the Adriatic coast.

Pro Tip: Climb the bell tower first, before the cathedral floor fills with tour groups. From the top platform you'll see the entire palace plan laid out below - the cleanest way to grasp how a Roman fort became a living medieval town - and the climb costs only a few extra euros on top of the combined ticket.