Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Visually trace the outline of the gigantic palace, which was more than 600 feet long on
each side. On the corner to the right stands a big, rectangular guard tower (one of the ori-
ginal 16). To the left, the tower is gone and the corner is harder to pick out (look for the
beginning of the newer-looking buildings). Mentally erase the ramshackle two-story build-
ings added 200 years ago, which obscure the grandeur of the palace wall.
Halfway up the facade, notice the row of 42 arched window frames (mostly filled in
today). Diocletian and his family lived in the seaside half of the palace. Imagine him
strolling back and forth along this fine arcade, enjoying the views of his Adriatic homeland.
Theinland,non-viewhalfofthepalacewashometo700servants,bodyguards,andsoldiers.
• Go through the door in the middle of the palace (known as the “Brass Gate,” located un-
der
The Substructure of Diocletian's Palace
banner). Just inside the door and to the left is
the entrance to...
Diocletian's Cellars (Podromi)
Since the palace was constructed on land that sloped down to the sea, these chambers were
built to level out a foundation for the massive structure above (like a modern “daylight
basement”). These cellars were filled with water from three different sources: a freshwater
spring, a sulfur spring, and the sea. Later, medieval residents used them as a dump. Redis-
covered only in the last century, the cellars enabled archaeologists to derive the floor plan
of some of the palace's long-gone upper sections. These underground chambers now house
art exhibits and a little strip of souvenir stands. One particularly well-preserved stretch can
be toured, offering the best look in town at Roman engineering.
