Ancient Salona: a guide to its most important archaeological sites
Just a few steps from Salona Palace Hotel lies a place where, almost two thousand years ago, one of the most important cities of Roman Dalmatia once stood. Salona was the administrative, economic and religious centre of the province. Today, its remains offer a very different encounter with history from what you might expect at a traditional museum.
There is no single building where visitors move from one exhibit to another. Salona is an open-air archaeological site where you can walk through the former city, among the remains of defensive walls, basilicas, necropolises, Roman baths, a theatre and an amphitheatre.
Because of its size, Salona is best explored without rushing. If this is your first visit, these are the places that will help you discover the story of the ancient city.
Manastirine: where to begin your visit
Manastirine is one of Salona’s most important early Christian complexes. The remains of a basilica and cemetery stand on the site of an ancient necropolis. Domnio, the bishop of Salona and a Christian martyr, was buried here in the early 4th century.
Manastirine is also home to Tusculum, a building commissioned in the late 19th century by Don Frane Bulić, one of the most influential researchers and guardians of Salona’s archaeological heritage. Originally intended as a place for archaeologists to work and visitors to gather, the building remains part of the archaeological complex today.
For guests of Salona Palace Hotel, this part of the site is particularly interesting because it is located immediately next to the hotel. Within just a few minutes, you can leave the contemporary hotel surroundings and enter a place where traces of life from centuries past have been preserved.
The amphitheatre: one of Salona’s most recognisable landmarks
On the western edge of the ancient city stand the remains of Salona’s amphitheatre, built in the second half of the 2nd century AD.
Even today, its dimensions suggest just how important Salona once was. The arena hosted gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, while the seating area could accommodate thousands of spectators.
The amphitheatre also holds one of the darkest chapters in Salona’s history. During the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian, Christian martyrs from Salona lost their lives here.
Although only parts of the once monumental structure survive, its outline still reveals the scale of the original building and offers one of the most memorable impressions of ancient Salona.
The episcopal centre and traces of early Christianity
Salona was one of the important centres of early Christianity on the eastern Adriatic coast. The remains of its extensive episcopal complex, including basilicas, a baptistery and other buildings associated with the Christian community, bear witness to this period.
This part of the archaeological site offers a particularly clear picture of how the city changed over the centuries. Ancient public spaces gradually took on new functions, and Salona developed into an important religious centre alongside its administrative and economic role.
You do not need to be familiar with Roman history or archaeology to appreciate this part of the site. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment to stop and imagine the city that once extended far beyond the remains visible today.
The theatre, forum and everyday life in the ancient city
Salona was not only a city of monumental buildings and major historical events. It was also a place where everyday life unfolded.
The remains of the theatre, built in the 1st century AD, recall the cultural and social life of its inhabitants. Nearby stood the forum, the centre of public life, together with temples and other public buildings.
Walking through this part of Salona helps bring the individual archaeological remains together into a broader picture. Rather than a collection of isolated monuments, the site gradually reveals a city where people lived, met, traded, visited public baths, attended performances and participated in civic life.
Salona is best discovered at a slower pace
For a first visit, it is worth setting aside at least an hour and a half to two hours. The archaeological site covers a large area, much of it outdoors, so comfortable footwear and enough time are the best way to enjoy the experience without rushing.
It is also advisable to check current opening hours and ticket information before your visit, particularly if you are travelling outside the main tourist season.
Yet perhaps Salona’s greatest appeal lies not only in what you can see. Unlike many famous historical attractions, this is still a place where a sense of space and quiet allows you to pause and truly take in the remains of the ancient city.
History as part of your stay at Salona Palace Hotel
For guests of Salona Palace Hotel, visiting Salona does not require a separate day trip or complicated planning. The archaeological site is located immediately next to the hotel, making it easy to include in your stay, whether as a morning walk before exploring Split and the surrounding area or as a few peaceful hours dedicated to history.
This is part of what makes staying in Solin so special. Ancient Salona is not a distant attraction that requires a special journey. It is part of the landscape surrounding the hotel and the story of the place where you are staying.
And once you have explored its best-known landmarks, there are still many reasons to return. Salona is a city whose story can hardly be told in a single visit.
