Croatia's second largest city is one of sharp contrasts. It lies halfway between the country's two leading holiday destinations, Dubrovnik and Istria, echoing appealing mountain backdrops and glittering Adriatic waterfronts. Split houses some of Europe's finest Roman remains, as well as modern trimmings that are about as metropolitan as Croatia gets. The city was founded by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who built its atmospheric walled palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the empire's finest gifts, along with a collection of Roman baths, a cathedral and an amphitheatre.
On the flip side of the coin is a buzzing drinking and dining scene, with cafés, bars and restaurants reaching the length of the Riva, Split's palm-lined seafront promenade that acts as the city's stage. It fills with festivals and events come summer, in particular the vibrant summer festival held through July and August.
