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Salona was first mentioned in the year 119. BC, during the war between Illyrians and Romans, but first settlements were a lot older. Ancient Greek geographer Strabo says that Salona was a port of the Illyrian tribe of Dalmatia, who probably traded there with the Greek seamen. Remains of the walls of greek origin found in Salona and its surroundings, point out to Greeks as the founders of this city. Some historians claim that Salona was first inhabited in fourth century BC.

Strong Greek influence is obvious in the early days of Salona, and the first historic period of Salona was as a Greek-Illyrian settlement. In the first century BC, the Romans occupied Salona, and a civil war began between Caesar and Pompey residents. Salona stands by Caesar, which after the war brings them the honor of the colony, and an official name – Colonia Martina Julia Salona. The city began expanding towards the east and west into two new sections to the east and west. Because of that, the writers of the time wrote about Salona in plural – as Salonae.

When Illyria was arranged as a Roman province, Salona became a true cultural, commercial, political, and for some time a military center. In the later centuries, it also became a religious center. In the first centuries after Christ, Salona was settled by many Easterners, and among them, heralds of the gospel. In the second half of the third century, Salona had organized a Christian community.

The fact that Roman Emperor Diocletian was born in Salona or its vicinity, had led to building of the famous Diocletians palace, raising the prestige of this, already important city. The large number of roads and ports, connecting Salong with other parts of the empire testifies to this.

Today, the city of Salona remains in ruins, only partially researched. What has been discovered says enough about its size and importance. The city of Salona was irregular in form, resembling an ellipse. The longest axis reaches about 1600m, and the broadest about 700m. The area surrounded with walls covers 72 hectares. The walls are about 4km long, with 90 towers. In the 4 century, during the Byzantine-Gothic wars, some of the towers were strenghtened and given the triangular ends, some of which are still standing today.

Explore this ancient city laying in pictoresque surroundings while staying in one of the fine apartments in Split just a 15 min drive away!

On these pages you can find a location map of accommodation in Split, close to Salona.