Archaeological Museum Split

Founded in 1820 by decree of the Dalmatian government in Zadar, this is the oldest museum in Croatia, and its collection came largely from Salona, the Roman capital of Dalmatia a few kilometres inland whose ruins were being excavated through the nineteenth century. The building it occupies was purpose-built in 1914, with an arcaded courtyard designed to display sarcophagi, inscriptions and architectural stone in the open air - which is where much of the best material is, including early Christian sarcophagi from the Salona cemeteries. Inside are Greek finds from the Adriatic colonies, Roman glass and metalwork, and a substantial coin collection.

History

Collecting began early: at the start of the 16th century the Split humanist Dominik Papalić gathered in his house the inscribed and carved stones that he and the poet Marko Marulić had found in the ruins of Salona. The museum itself was founded in 1820 by decree of the Dalmatian government in Zadar, after Emperor Francis I visited Dalmatia in 1818, and its first building went up in 1821 against the eastern wall of Diocletian's Palace; it was soon too small for the finds. The priest and archaeologist Frane Bulić ran the museum from 1884 for more than fifty years, founded the first Croatian archaeological society in 1894 and saw the present building put up between 1912 and 1914 to plans by the Viennese architects August Kirstein and Friedrich Ohmann in a neo-Romanesque style; it opened to the public only in early 1922 (Wikipedia, Split Archaeological Museum).

What's there

• Croatia's oldest museum - founded by decree in 1820.
• A purpose-built 1914 building - with an arcaded courtyard for stone.
• Salona's sarcophagi and inscriptions - the core of the collection.
• Greek Adriatic finds - from the island colonies.

When to go

Year round; hours are shorter in winter. Two hours.

Things to know

Display is old-fashioned and labelling is uneven, particularly in English. It is a fifteen minute walk from the palace and most visitors skip it. Salona itself is a separate site and worth pairing with this.

Nearby

Diocletian's Palace is south; Salona is a short drive inland.

Key facts