Croatia is a choice destination for lovers of antiquity. There are remains of Iron Age Istrian settlements, Bronze Age Illyrian cities, and Roman architecture left behind by the builders’ extraordinaire of the Roman Empire.
You probably first heard of Dubrovnik when it became world famous as one of the filming locations for the Game of Thrones series. Croatia has since become the ultimate backdrop for heroic tales and decadent fantasy. Here, you can immerse yourself into a better perfumed, cleaner, and less dangerous version of the ancient Roman world!
Explore King’s Landing (the Old Town), the Red Keep (Fort Lovrijenac), and Cersei Lannister’s Walk of Shame (the Jesuit Stairs), and then return to modern conveniences, a smashing meal, and a comfortable hotel bed to do it all again in the morning.
Layer upon Layer of Continuous History
At the height of the Roman Empire, there were at least thirty Roman-style urban cities in Istria, Liburnia, and Dalmatia. Due to continuous exploration and conservation efforts, Croatia is home to prime examples of Roman streets, city gates, aqueducts, forums, amphitheaters, and temples.
But, some of Croatia’s spectacular but “young” architectural remains often get first attention.
One example is the iconic Dubrovnik City Walls. Building started in the mid-1300s but was only completed in the mid-1400s. Trogir Cathedral dated back to the early 1200s and took more than 400 years to build. The Euphrasian Basilica in the coastal town of Poreč is an opulent example of 6th-century Byzantine architecture. It shares the site with a sumptuous former Roman villa with a beautiful floor mosaic.
Let’s throw the spotlight on some of the original Roman remains. These seven sites are outstanding examples of Roman heritage sites.
Diocletian’s Palace in Split
The list of must-see Roman sites in Croatia starts with the Diocletian Palace in Split. In the 4th Century AD, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built himself a vast palace complex on the waterfront.
Later generations built upon the monumental proportions of Diocletian’s mausoleum and transformed it into Split Cathedral. Diocletian’s Palace is still home to shops, restaurants, hotels, and bars. It also houses the Archaeological Museum with its extraordinary collection of Roman artifacts.
Roman Aqueduct and Amphitheater in Pula
The Pula Amphitheatre has a complete, intact outer ring wall, which makes it one of the world’s finest examples of Roman amphitheaters. It once hosted bloody gladiator fights, but modern cultural activities lean towards performances by opera and pop stars and the annual Pula Film Festival.
While in Pula, visit the Twin Gate, Arch of the Sergii, Forum Romanum, and the spectacular 65-square meter mosaic depicting the Punishment of Dirce.
A little further afield, the Brijuni archipelago north of Pula houses villas going back to the Roman era. There are also churches and forts built by the Austrian and Byzantine empires, the Knights Templar, and even Bronze Age settlers.
Zadar Amphitheater and Aqueduct
Zadar became a Roman colony in 48 BC and acquired the typical layout and architectural character of a classical Roman city. The city walls and ancient grid-lined streets, inlaid with marble limestone, are well worth a visit.
Archaeological excavations have also uncovered an amphitheater, lavish baths, and a huge Forum in the old city center. Some archaeological finds are displayed in situ, but many Roman glass artifacts are now preserved in the Zadar Museum of Ancient Glass.
Don’t miss out on the splendid aqueduct that brought fresh water to all parts of the city.
Fulfinum (modern Okladi)
Ongoing archeological exploration has uncovered the remains of a Roman forum, temple, basilica, and tabernae. This former administrative town shows evidence of a large and impressive complex of public buildings.
Archaeological Museum of Narona
The Narona Augusteum (Roman temple) has been developed into an impressive interactive exhibition site: 17 giant statues of Roman emperors have been mounted to overlook the spectacular mosaic floor of the temple. Among the over 900 exhibits, there are loads of coins, Roman glass, high-status pottery, jewelry, and metal artifacts.
Andautonia Archaeological park at Scitarjevo Village near Zagreb
The beautifully preserved remains of Andautonia cover an area of over 2500 square meters. It was a vital regional seat, well positioned on the main Roman road from Sisak to Ptuj.
Archeologists have found a large number of Roman pottery and glass, as well as bronze and silver jewelry. Engraved inscriptions in the building reflect a long history of occupation starting in the 1st century. The remains of wall paintings, mosaics, and heating systems show the presence of luxuriously appointed buildings. A lavish lifestyle for the elite!
Salona Roman settlement (Solin)
The Salona Amphiteathre was built in the late 2nd century AD. It served a community of almost 60,000 people and could seat around 17,000 spectators. The columns, public baths, a forum, and a range of burial sites and temples prove that Salona was a prosperous provincial capital of Dalmatia in the time of Emperor Diocletian.
Eat like a Roman in Croatia
We know the Romans ate well, and Dalmatian cooking reflects Roman tastes. The emphasis is on great wine, extraordinary olive oils and tapenades, homemade bread, fresh cheeses, cured meats, and fresh seafood from the Adriatic sea.
Small restaurants abound in the historic cities. Also, make a point of venturing out to the atmospheric taverns and bars in coastal towns and islands. Digital nomads and long-term visitors will find the best food shopping in colorful open-air markets. In Dubrovnic, visit the big fresh produce and fish market in Gruz, or stick to the Old Town market for dried local produce and liquor.
A Digital Travel Tip for Croatia
Croatia is very safe and has become a favorite digital nomad destination because of its great Wi-Fi infrastructure. Like all popular international tourist destinations, cybercriminals are starting to move in.
While you soak up the picturesque bars, restaurants, and chic shops, never let your guard down when you use your electronic devices. It’s particularly important to protect your phone. One unintentional auto-connect to a hotspot could be very dangerous.
Come prepared with a good antivirus solution for all your phones and laptops. Never connect to public Wi-Fi in cafes or restaurants without shielding your devices with a VPN Australia. It masks your traffic and provides threat protection against man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks.
