Franjo Tuđman Square

This is Franjo Tuđman Square, linking the Prokurative to the Riva. Laid out as a small green space that bursts into color in spring and summer, it’s named after the first president of independent Croatia, elected in 1990 after decades under Yugoslav rule. That independence marked the culmination of a history stretching back 1,700 years. It all began in 295 AD, when the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his magnificent seaside retirement palace here on the Dalmatian coast. A native of the region and the last emperor to persecute Christians, he chose this land for his final years. In the 7th century, as Slavic invasions swept through Dalmatia, the people of the nearby city of Salona took refuge within the fortified walls of the palace. And so, Split was born, literally built inside the Roman walls. During the Middle Ages, it became a free city before falling under Venetian rule from 1420 to 1797. Venice left a lasting mark: Renaissance palaces, campaniles, and the Mediterranean charm that still lingers today. With Venice’s fall, Split became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ushering in its modern expansion with grand boulevards, a national theatre, and new urban districts. In 1918, the city joined the newly formed Kingdom of Yugoslavia, later becoming part of Tito’s socialist republic after World War II. Croatia’s declaration of independence in 1991 was a decisive turning point. After decades of Yugoslav federalism, the country asserted its sovereignty amid the Balkan conflicts. Split, spared from direct fighting, emerged as a symbol of Croatia’s national revival and flourished as the cultural capital of Dalmatia. Just in front of you, on one side of the square, stand the Church and Monastery of St. Francis, dating back to the 13th century. This historic site houses the former Franciscan monastery and the tomb of 16th-century humanist writer Marko Marulić, regarded as the father of Croatian literature. If the church is open as you pass, step inside for a closer look.