Diocletian's Palace A Luxurious Roman Retreat

The Emperor Diocletian, who was born in Salona, chose this beautiful place for his retirement. At the peak of his power and wealth, he built an extraordinary palace here to spend his later years. The palace, or rather a group of palaces, covers almost ten acres of land. According to contemporary sources, it required about 6,000 servants, attendants, and guards to maintain and protect this magnificent Roman retreat.

Construction of the palace took twelve years to complete, and it must have cost an immense amount of money. In both its size and beauty, it was more impressive than any building before or after. When finished, around the end of the third century AD, it was likely the largest and most expensive building ever created by humans. The palace was a symbol of Diocletian’s power and wealth, and it surpassed all other structures of its time.

Remaining Parts of the Palace

Even though much of the palace has been damaged or destroyed, parts of it are still in excellent condition today. These remaining structures continue to amaze visitors. Some of the best-preserved parts include:

The Mausoleum: Originally built as Diocletian’s tomb, it is now used as a church.

The Capella Palatine: This part is now used as a baptistery.

The Main Vestibule and Colonnade: The entrance area and colonnade still stand in good condition.

The Gates: Three of the gates remain, allowing us to study their architectural details.

These sections of the palace are well-preserved enough to allow detailed study and admiration.

The Decline and Destruction of Diocletian’s Palace

Unfortunately, much of the rest of the palace has been destroyed over time. The marble and building materials from the ruins have been taken and used to construct buildings in Trieste, Venice, and even Rome. In fact, several beautiful palaces in Venice are believed to have been built entirely with materials taken from Diocletian’s palace Private Sofia Tours.

After Diocletian’s death in 313 AD, the palace became property of the state, but no emperor after him used it as a residence. The cost of maintaining such a large and luxurious palace was too high. Soon after, the palace was converted into a fortress, and after the fall of the Roman Empire, it gradually fell into ruin.