Split, Croatia

Split Grad Split
City
City of Split
Top: Nighttime view of Split from Mosor; 2nd row: Cathedral of Saint Domnius; City center of Split; 3rd row: View on the city from Marjan; Night in Poljicka Street; Bottom: Riva waterfront
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Velo misto (Croatian: (the) Big town/city
Anthem: Marjane, Marjane
Split Location of Split in Croatia
Coordinates: 43°30′36″N 16°27′00″E / 43.51000°N 16.45000°E / 43.51000; 16.45000Coordinates: 43°30′36″N 16°27′00″E / 43.51000°N 16.45000°E / 43.51000; 16.45000
Country	Croatia
County	Split-Dalmatia
Greek colony of Aspálathos established	3rd or 2nd century BCE
Diocletian's Palace built	305 CE
Diocletian's Palace settled	639 CE
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Ivo Baldasar (STS)
• City Council	11 parties/lists • SDP (8) • HDZ (7) • HGS (5) • HNS (2) • List of Independent Ivan Grubišić (2) • List of Independent Marijana Puljak (2) • List of Independent Anđelka Visković (2) • HSU (1) • HČSP (1) • HSS (1) • HSLS (1) • Independents (3)
Area
• City	79.38 km2 (30.65 sq mi)
• City proper	22.12 km2 (8.54 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
• City	178,102
• Density	2,244/km2 (5,810/sq mi)
• Metro	346,314
• City proper	167,121
• City proper density	7,499/km2 (19,420/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	HR-21000
Area code	21
Vehicle registration	ST
Patron saint	Saint Domnius
Website	www.split.hr

Split (Croatian pronunciation: [splît]; see other names) is the second-largest city of Croatia and the largest city of the region of Dalmatia. It lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, centered on the Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian. Spread over a central peninsula and its surroundings, Split's greater area includes the neighboring seaside towns as well. An intraregional transport hub and popular tourist destination, the city is a link to numerous Adriatic islands and the Apennine peninsula.

Split is one of the oldest cities in the area. While traditionally considered just over 1,700 years old, counting from the construction of Diocletian's Palace in 305 CE, the city was in fact founded as the Greek colony of Aspálathos (Aσπάλαθος) in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE. It became a prominent settlement around 650 CE, when it succeeded the ancient capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, Salona: as after the Sack of Salona by the Avars and Slavs, the fortified Palace of Diocletian was settled by the Roman refugees. Split became a Byzantine city, to later gradually drift into the sphere of the Byzantine vassal, the Republic of Venice, and the Croatian Kingdom, with the Byzantines retaining nominal suzerainty. For much of the High and Late Middle Ages, Split enjoyed autonomy as a free city, caught in the middle of a struggle between Venice and the King of Hungary for control over the Dalmatian cities.