Split : A view of Riva

How to get to Split Map of Split Traveling around Split by local bus (note: the last stop to the seafront -Riva is HNK) Taxi Split Airport "Zracna luka" Split Coach Station -"Kolodvor" -in Croatian Split  Port From Zagreb to Split by train -in Croatian Useful phrases Shops and shopping centers Restaurants Night Clubs in Split: Shakespeare Metropolis Hollywood Up and down Paganini Picasso Theatre Split Goran Ivanisevic Football in Split Accomodation in Split If you want to buy a property in Dalmatia Kasuni-kastelet beach Sailing Club Mornar Split

The magic of Split
 

Once you get to know Split, you realise that this city which still lives in renaissance is a very special one. It was founded in the third century by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The whole structure of the old Dioclecian Palace is impressive, with its massive walls surrounding the tiny streets and exotic white squares, Palace is traffic free, full of numerous signs still showing the luxurious times of the Roman Empire. Riva, the south, sea touching front of Split is the place where the crowd gathers; this place has a special meaning for the habitants of Split. The smell of sulphur from the old roman sulphurous baths is still there, characteristic for this area. Life is slow and amazing on Riva, so much that you often wish to thank the nature for creating it. From Riva you can enter the Palace, through few tinny streets or the Emperor's thick cellars which in hot summer months can shortly save you from the heath, and head for many art galleries and eccentric shops. In the center of the Palace do not forget to see stone sphinxes, placed in the corner of the exotic Square of Peristil. North from Peristil you find a giant statue of Grgur Ninski (grgur ninsci), touch its huge thumb, close your eyes and make a wish, it definitely comes true… On the West Side of Riva, there is a church of St Frane, behind it, the small street leads to the hill of Marjan (maryan) which is also a symbol of Split.On the top of this street, climbing the old Roman stairs you get to the Prva Vidilica (prva vidiliza). From there the whole area of Split can be seen, like it is been spread on your palm. There is a little restaurant cafe here, where you can sip one more lazy coffee while watching the endless sealine.. The eastern side of Riva is leading to the busy coach station and ferry port. The ladies of many generations said good bye to their love here, the handsome sailors who cruised the world. Did they come back, are they coming back, definitely yes because for people who were born here, this is the end of the world. Further east from the ferry port there is a beach Bacvice (Bachvize), another gathering place in the hot summer days. If you follow the beach towards the east you will reach the Shakespeare, a popular Night Club of Split, where the famous people often can be seen. Near The Shakespeare, there are tennis courts, where many talented tennis players like Goran Ivanisevic started their career and now it is the place for teaching the younger generation. Back to the Riva, if you go north, taking the traffic free Street of Marmont, you get to the shops full of modern, eccentric designer clothes and shoes. Fashion today takes a very high position in the life of Split, as it always was.

Take your chance as some of these pieces you will not find anywhere in the world. As well, why not go to the hairdresser, the service is cheap and believe me, not everybody can be a hairdresser in Split. It will probably take a half a day for the haircut to be done but when you come out – what a change of image! Split people are very patriotic about their city, especially about the sport, “Hajduk live forever”, almost every guy from Split will tell you. When there is a football mach, the whole city is paralysed, if their club has won, there is a huge and loud  party, usually in the evening (and it lasts till the morning or the next evening for some..); the Riva is full of people, who sing, dance, perform. Split has few beaches (Znjan, Trstenik, Bacvice, Bene etc.) but in hot summer months because the Split beaches are overcrowded, locals rather go to the remote islands, or they have a weekend houses in the posh area of Ciovo (Trogir area). If you are hungry and want something to eat, do it before the midnight as after only the cheap and bad quality take away are open. Otherwise, in the evening, Split has quite a few nice restaurants to visit. If you do not like seafood, go for pizza, mouth melting, reach taste, completely different. If you do like seafood and prefer heavy meat food, you are in the right place. Be warned the restaurant food is usually cheap and very fresh but it can turn to be more expensive then you have expected. The meal for five we paid 1600 kn. in the famous restaurant of Sumica (Shumiza) which is placed above beach Bacvice (Bachvize) . I would recommend a restaurant in the other part of Split called Spinut, in the little of Marina Lucica (Luchiza); Food is fresh and different, meat, seafood, meal about 60kn per person, service much better than expensive restaurants. If you want to eat take away, try cevapcici (chevapchichi), similar to the kebab, these are meatballs, which you should eat with fresh onions. The best cevapcici place in Split is a tiny shop place between St Frane (sveti frane) and Prokorative. – this small street is the last after Marmont Street.   Marmont Street, Split         Grgur Ninski, Split