The Emporer’s Palace is one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture in the world. A combination of luxury villa and military camp, its huge walls protect four separate areas divided by two main streets turning north to south & east to west. Entry is by way of a guarded gateway in each wall, still defended by Roman soldiers disguised as tourist attractions.

Try and forget the crowds and the temperature and take a trip back to ancient times when Jews lived in a ghetto, affluent merchant families built grand houses inside the walls, churches and official buildings competed to out-glorify each other and traders and sailors landed goods from Africa to the Americas, from the China seas to the Russian Federation.

The ancient core still boasts Roman and medieval artefacts and features and archaeologists are working behind scaffolding and cloth to reveal past glories.

Outside the walls normal life goes on for tourists and locals. Split is very much a young person’s place particularly away from the cruise ships and the long lines of coack parties and tourist groups. The town’s small beach is buzzing with gentling couples, groups of tanning girls and gangs of loud boys larking about in the shallow water. The latter needing to expend a bit of energy before joining up with gals and heading for the afternoon party boat or the bar.