People’s Square

You’re now standing in the People’s Square, Narodni trg in Croatian. This is where the heart of public life moved after the Roman era, right in the middle of the medieval city. For centuries, this has been the stage for debates, markets, official proclamations… and, of course, morning coffee rituals. In the Middle Ages, as the city expanded beyond Diocletian’s Palace, this square became Split’s new civic center. The star of the show here is the Old Town Hall, built in the 15th century in the Venetian Gothic style so typical of the Dalmatian coast. That’s the elegant building right in front of you, a refined architectural gem that now hosts art and local history exhibitions instead of city officials. Look to your right and you’ll spot a tall square tower topped with a rather unusual clock. This is the old municipal tower, built partly from reused Roman stones. Its most striking feature is the rare 16th-century clock face with 24 hours marked on a single dial, showing the entire day in one sweep. Around the square, the façades are a patchwork of styles, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, once the homes of wealthy notaries, merchants, and humanists. On the far left stands the Nakić Palace, easy to recognize with its white façade and graceful Baroque windows. Simpler buildings nearby, though less ornate, still tell the story of a city that has been lived in continuously for centuries. For a long time, Narodni trg was where everyday life unfolded: fruit markets, second-hand book stalls, spirited debates, and even a few neighborly quarrels. There’s an old local tradition of retirees gathering here every morning, buying nothing at all, just reading newspaper headlines aloud and commenting on the state of the world, something you can still see today. And if you’re a fan of epic TV series, there’s a fun surprise just around the corner: the Game of Thrones Museum, tucked away in a nearby alley. Inside, you’ll find costumes, weapons, and authentic props from the show, which filmed several scenes right here in the narrow streets of Diocletian’s Palace. So take a moment to stand still here. Watch the stones, the people, the shadows drifting across the walls. On the People’s Square, every detail tells a story, and every corner holds a piece of Split’s soul, warm, talkative… and very much alive.