Historic site
Saint Domnius Cathedral
565 locals recommend,
Location
3 Ul. Kraj Svetog Duje
Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Tips from locals
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Croatian: Katedrala Svetog Duje), built in AD 305 as the Mausoleum of Diocletian, is the second oldest structure used by any Christian Cathedral.
Domnius’ (Duje’s) Cathedral and Campanile Today, many consider that the repurposed Split’s Cathedral has once been Diocletian’s mausoleum. It is the oldest cathedral building in the world, and the central portion dates back to 305 AD. Split’s iconic bell tower sits next to the cathedral. It is a stunning sight and is six-stories high. We recommend making the effort to climb on top and see the Split cityscape and the Adriatic for a small admission fee.
Domnius’ (Duje’s) Cathedral and Campanile Today, many consider that the repurposed Split’s Cathedral has once been Diocletian’s mausoleum. It is the oldest cathedral building in the world, and the central portion dates back to 305 AD. Split’s iconic bell tower sits next to the cathedral. It is a stu…
Oldest cathedral in the world built as the Musoleum of the Roman Emperor Dioklecijan. Place of liturgy with a millennium long continuity.
Eleven of the twelve granite sphinxes that originally guarded the Peristyle have been destroyed by Christians who took exception to Egyptian imagery in their cathedral, but the twelfth remains, an imposing reminder of the original designer of the mausoleum, Diocletian. The former emperor's tomb has long since disappeared, perhaps re-used in the creation of the Christianized mausoleum. Remnants of Diocletian's rule do remain, in the form of portraits of the emperor and his wife that can be seen in the dome of the cathedral. More prominently on display are the altars to Domnius and Anastasius, the latter a Christian martyr who was killed during the reign of another enemy of early Christians, E
Eleven of the twelve granite sphinxes that originally guarded the Peristyle have been destroyed by Christians who took exception to Egyptian imagery in their cathedral, but the twelfth remains, an imposing reminder of the original designer of the mausoleum, Diocletian. The former emperor's tomb has…