City of Split Grad Split
Split, as seen from Marjan hill
Flag Seal
Nickname: The Most Beautiful City in the World, The Center of the World
City of Split Location of Split in Croatia
Coordinates: 43°30′0″N 16°26′0″E / 43.5, 16.43333
Country	Croatia
County	Split-Dalmatia County
Greek colony of Aspálathos established	6th century BC
Diocletian's Palace built	305 AD
Diocletian's Palace settled	639 AD
Government
- Mayor	Ivan Kuret (HDZ)
Area
- City	63 km² (24. Marjan (pronounced "maryan" is a low lying mountain Landform ( Hill) on the peninsula of the city of Split, capital of Croatia A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between The counties are primary territorial subdivisions of the Republic of Croatia. Split-Dalmatia County ( Splitsko-dalmatinska županija) is the central-southern Dalmatian county in Croatia. Colonies in antiquity were City-states founded from a mother- City The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC. Diocletian's Palace ( Dioklecijanova palača in Croatian) is a building in Split in Croatia that was built by the emperor Diocletian Events By Place Roman Empire May 1 — Diocletian and Maximian, Emperors of Rome retire from office Events By Place Europe Clovis II succeeds Dagobert I as king of the Franks in Neustria and Burgundy The Croatian Democratic Union (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica HDZ is the main Center-right Political party in Croatia. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 3 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- City	221,456
- Density	3,515/km² (9,103. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/sq mi)
- Metro	408,251
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	21000
Area code(s)	21
Licence plate	ST
Lowest point	0 m
Highest point	189 m (Marjan)
Website: www.split.hr

Split (Greek: Ασπάλαθος, Aspálathos; Latin: Spalatum; Italian: Spalato) is the largest and most important city in Dalmatia, the administrative center of Croatia's Split-Dalmatia County, and the country's second-largest city. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+1 is used in the following locations Central European Time West Africa Time Western European Summer Time Daylight saving time ( DST Central European Summer Time ( CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+2 corresponds to the following Time zones Eastern European Time Egypt Standard Time Central Africa Time A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks The standard License plates in Croatia consist of a two-letter city code which is separated by Coat of Arms of Croatia from three or four numbers and one or two The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Marjan (pronounced "maryan" is a low lying mountain Landform ( Hill) on the peninsula of the city of Split, capital of Croatia Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Split-Dalmatia County ( Splitsko-dalmatinska županija) is the central-southern Dalmatian county in Croatia. It is a Mediterranean city, situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Split is also one of the oldest cities in the area, dating more that 1700 years, although some new archeological researchs show the possibility of the city being even older.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Antiquity 1.2 Middle Ages 1.3 Venetian and Austrian rule 1.4 20th century after WWI 1.4.1 Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1.4.2 World War II 1.4.3 SFR Yugoslavia 1.4.4 Republic of Croatia 2 Government 3 Economy 4 Geography and climate 5 Demographics 6 Transport 7 Culture 8 Sports 9 Sister cities/towns 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

History

Antiquity

Although the beginnings of Split are usually linked to the building of Diocletian's Palace, the city was founded as a Greek colony of Aspálathos much earlier. Diocletian's Palace ( Dioklecijanova palača in Croatian) is a building in Split in Croatia that was built by the emperor Diocletian Colonies in antiquity were City-states founded from a mother- City The Greek settlement lived off trade with the surrounding Illyrian tribes, mostly the Delmatae, who inhabited the (much larger) nearby city of Salona. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Illyrians has come to refer to a broad ill-defined " Indo-European " group of peoples who inhabited the western Balkans ( Illyria, roughly The Dalmatae (or Greek language Delmatoi - Δελματοί) were an ancient people who inhabited the core of what would then become known as Dalmatia after Salona was an ancient Illyrian Delmati city in the first millennium BC.
In time, the Roman Republic became the dominant power in the region, and conquered the Illyrians in the Illyrian Wars of 229 BC and 219 BC. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the In the Illyrian Wars of 229 BC and 219 BC, Rome overran the Illyrian settlements in the Neretva river valley and suppressed the Upon establishing permanent control, the Romans founded the province of Dalmatia with Salona as the capital. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Dalmatia was an ancient Roman province Its name is probably derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Dalmatae which lived in the area of the eastern The name of the nearby town thus changed from "Aspálathos" to "Spalatum".

After almost dying from a sickness, the Roman Emperor Diocletian (ruled AD 284 to 305), great reformer of the late Roman Empire, decided to retire from politics in AD 305. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate Events By Place Roman Empire November 20 — Diocletian becomes Emperor. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Emperor ordered work to begin on a retirement palace near his hometown, and since he was from the town of Dioclea near Salona, he chose the nearby seaside town of Spalatum for the location. Work on the palace began in AD 293 in readiness for his retirement from politics. Events By Place Roman Empire March 1 — Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius The palace was built as a massive structure, much like a Roman military fortress. It faces the sea on its south side, with its walls 170 to 200 meters (570 to 700 feet) long, and 15 to 20 meters (50 to 70 feet) high, enclosing an area of 38,000m² (9½ acres). The palace water supply was substantial, fed by an aqueduct from Jadro Spring. The Jadro Spring is a water source rising in the Dinaric Alps in Croatia. This opulent palace and its surroundings were at times inhabited by a population as large as 8,000 to 10,000 people,^[1] who required parks and recreation space; therefore, Diocletian established such outdoor areas at Marjan hill. Marjan (pronounced "maryan" is a low lying mountain Landform ( Hill) on the peninsula of the city of Split, capital of Croatia ^[2] He later retired exactly according to schedule, becoming the first Roman emperor to voluntarily remove himself from office. ^[3]

Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476, Spalatum fell under the rule of the Byzantine Emperors. The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Events By place Western Roman Empire September 4 — Romulus Augustus, the last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire This is a list of the Emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly known as the Byzantine Empire by modern historians It grew very slowly as a satellite town of the much larger Salona. However, around AD 639 Salona fell to the invasion of Avars and Slavs, and was razed to the ground, with the majority of the displaced citizens fleeing to the nearby Adriatic islands. Events By Place Europe Clovis II succeeds Dagobert I as king of the Franks in Neustria and Burgundy The Caucasian Avars are a modern people of Caucasus, mainly of Dagestan. This is a list of islands in the Adriatic. There are approximately 1200 islands in total 69 of which are inhabited Following the return of Byzantine rule to the area, the Romanic citizens returned to the mainland under the leadership of the nobleman known as Severus the Great. They chose to inhabit Diocletian's Palace in Spalatum, because of its strong (more "medieval") fortifications. Diocletian's Palace ( Dioklecijanova palača in Croatian) is a building in Split in Croatia that was built by the emperor Diocletian The palace was long deserted by this time, and the interior was converted into a city by the Salona refugees, making Spalatum much larger as the successor to the capital city of the province. Today the palace constitutes the inner core of the city, still inhabited, full of shops, markets, squares, with an ancient cathedral (formerly Diocletian's mausoleum) inserted in the corridors and floors of the former palace. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral A mausoleum ( plural: mausolea is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons As a part of the Byzantine Empire, the city had varying but significant political autonomy.

Middle Ages

The Medieval period in Split's Dalmatia province is marked by the waning power of the Byzantine Empire, and by the struggle of the neighboring powers, namely the Venetian Republic, the Kingdom of Croatia, and (later) the Kingdom of Hungary, to fill the power vacuum. Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern ^[4]

The arrival of the South Slavs (mostly Croats) in the 7th century AD profoundly influenced the area. The South Slavs are a southern branch of the Slavic peoples that live in the Balkans mainly throughout the former Yugoslavia (meaning "Land of Croats (Hrvati are a South Slavic people mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries The hinterland and the islands were predominantly populated by the Croats, who began influencing the city itself. The early Medieval Croatian state (later the Kingdom of Croatia) founded neighboring littoral cities (such as Šibenik), and encompassed the vast majority of the hinterland. The Croatian people trace their origins to Slavic peoples which moved into the territory of the former Roman provinces Pannonia and Dalmatia The Kingdom of Croatia was an independent state from circa 925 until 1102 covering most of what is today Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Balkans Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, population 51553 (2001 In the following centuries Split developed an increasingly Croatian character, which can be seen in the architecture (particularly of churches) in the city and its surroundings. The city's Romanic population increasingly mingled with the surrounding populace.

To the north, the Venetian Republic began to influence the Dalmatian region from the 10th century, using its growing economic influence to gain control over the islands and the coastal cities. The Most Serene Republic of Venice ((Serenìsima Repùblica Vèneta or Repùblica de Venesia Serenissima Repubblica It gained control over the city during several periods, due mostly to the temporary weakness of the Croatian or Hungarian state.

With the decline of the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia held de-facto suzerainty over the city, granting it significant autonomy due to the state's feudal character. In the year 1102, Croatia was forced into a personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary (see Croatian pacta conventa) by its King, Coloman. A personal union is the combination by which two different States are governed by the same Monarch, while their boundaries their laws and their interests remain distinct This article deals with the history of the Kingdom of Hungary from the 10th century to c Pacta conventa ( Lat agreed accords) was an agreement between King Coloman of Hungary and the Croatian nobility in 1102 The city however maintained its significant degree of independence, and in 1312, it issued statues as well as currency of its own.

Venetian and Austrian rule

During the 20-year Hungarian civil war between King Sigismund and the Neapolitan house of Anjou, the losing contender, Ladislaus of Naples, sold his "rights" on Dalmatia to the Venetian Republic for a mere 100,000 ducats. For other nobles of the same name please see Sigismund. Sigismund ( February 14, 1368 – December 9, Anjou is a former County (c 880) Duchy ( 1360) and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Ladislas the Magnanimous (also spelled Ladislaus; July 14, 1376 / February 11, 1377 &ndash August 6 The ducat (ˈdʌkət is a Gold coin that was used as a trade currency throughout Europe before World War I. The much more centralized Republic took over the city by the year 1420, it was to remain under Venetian rule for 377 years (1420 - 1797). ^[5]
The population was by that time largely Croatian, but besides Slavic, the common language was also Italian (a mixture of Tuscan and Venetian dialects). Croatian language ( hrvatski jezik) is a South Slavic language which is used primarily in Croatia, by Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina in neighbouring Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. The Tuscan Dialect ( dialetto toscano) or the Tuscan Language ( lingua toscana) is an Italian dialect spoken in Venetian or Venetan is a Romance language spoken by over two million people mostly in the Veneto region of Italy. The autonomy of the city was reduced: the highest authority was a prince-captain, always of Venetian birth.

Despite this, Split eventually developed into a significant port-city, with important trade routes to the Ottoman-held interior through the nearby Klis pass. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Klis is a village located around a mountain fortress bearing the same name Culture flourished as well, Split being the hometown of Marko Marulić, a classic Croatian author. Marko Marulić ( Split, August 18, 1450 - Split January 5, 1524) was a Croatian Poet and Christian humanist Marko Marulić's most acclaimed work, Judita (1501), was written in Split, and was published there in 1521. It is widely held to be the first modern work of Croatian literature. Still, it should be noted the advances and achievements were reserved mostly for the aristocracy: the illiteracy rate was extremely high, mostly because Venetian rule showed little interest in educational and medical facilities. Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, Split was ruled by the Venetian Republic up to its downfall in 1797. After a brief period of Napoleonic rule (1806–1813), the city was allocated to the Empire of Austria by the Congress of Vienna. The Illyrian Provinces (Provinces illyriennes Ilirske province Ilirske pokrajne Province Illiriche were lands on the north and east coasts of the Adriatic Sea which were For the history of these states before 1804 see Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, and articles on each of the component countries. The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of the major powers of Europe, chaired by the Austrian statesman Clemens Wenzel von Metternich Large investments were undertaken in the city during that period, new streets were built and parts of the ancient fortifications were removed. ^[6]

During the period of the Austrian Empire Split's region, the Kingdom of Dalmatia, was a separate administrative unit. For the history of these states before 1804 see Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, and articles on each of the component countries. The Kingdom of Dalmatia was an administrative division (kingdom of the Habsburg Monarchy from 1815 to 1918 After the revolutions of 1848 as a result of the romantic nationalism, two factions appeared. The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout the European Romantic nationalism (also National Romanticism, organic nationalism, identity nationalism) is the form of Nationalism in which the state derives One was the pro-Croatian Unionist faction (later called the "Puntari" faction), led by the People's Party and, to a lesser extent, the Party of Rights, both of which advocated the union of Dalmatia with Croatia-Slavonia which was under Hungarian administration. This faction was strongest in Split, and used it as its headquarters. The other faction was the pro-Italian Autonomist faction (also known as the "Irredentist" faction), whose political goals of which varied from autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to a political union with Italy. There have been several distinct entities known as the Kingdom of Italy.
The political alliances in Split shifted over time. At the beginning, the Unionists and Autonomists were allied together, against centralism of Vienna. Centralization (or centralisation) is the process by which the activities of an organization particularly those regarding decision-making become concentrated within Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. After a while, when the national question came to prominence, they separated. Under Austria, however, Split can generally be said to have stagnated. The great upheavals in Europe in 1848 gained no ground in Split, and the city did not rebel.

20th century after WWI

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

After the end of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the province of Dalmatia, along with Split, became a part of The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which in 1929 changed its name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia). World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern The Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croato-Slovene ie Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene: Kraljevina Jugoslavija Since both Rijeka and Zadar, the two other large cities on the eastern Adriatic coast, were annexed by Italy, Split became the most important port in Yugoslavia. Rijeka (other Croatian dialects Rika and Reka, Reka Italian and Hungarian: Fiume, Sankt Veit am Pflaumb is Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea, with a population of 72717 (2001 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest In the new country, Split became the seat of new administrative unit, Littoral Banovina. The Littoral Banovina or Littoral Banate ( Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Primorska banovina) was a province ( banovina) The Lika railway, connecting Split to the rest of the country, was completed in 1925. After the Cvetković-Maček agreement, Split became the part of new administrative unit (merging of Sava and Littoral Banovina plus some Croat populated areas), Banovina of Croatia in Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Banovina of Croatia or Banate of Croatia ( Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian: Banovina Hrvatska) was a province ( Banovina

World War II

Main article: Yugoslav People's Liberation War

In April 1941, following the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Nazi Germany, Split was occupied by Italy and formally annexed one month later. The Yugoslav Front of World War II, also known as the Yugoslav People's Liberation War ( Croatian, Serbian: Narodnooslobodilački rat, Cyrillic April holidays and events National Poetry Month - in United States National Sexual Assault Awareness Month - in United Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Italian rule met heavy opposition from the Croat majority and almost a third of the total population joined Josip Broz Tito's Partisans. The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans, ( Serbo-Croatian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Slovene: Partizani The local football clubs refused to compete in the Italian championship; HNK Hajduk and RNK Split suspended its activities and later both joined the Partisans along with their entire staff. HNK Hajduk Split is a Croatian football club one of two most popular football clubs in the country RNK Split ( Radnički nogometni klub "Split") is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split. Soon after Hajduk became the official football club of the Partisan movement.

In September 1943, following the capitulation of Italy, the city was liberated by Tito's brigades with thousands of people volunteering to join the Partisans, only to be placed (by the Wehrmacht) under the occupation of the Nazi puppet NDH (the so called "Independent State of Croatia") just a few weeks later. Events in September It is the start of the academic year in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans, ( Serbo-Croatian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Slovene: Partizani Wehrmacht (literally "defense force" was the name of the unified Armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945 The Independent State of Croatia ( Croatian: Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH was a Puppet state of the Axis powers. During the occupation, some of the port facilities as well as parts of the old city were damaged by NDH and German bombing. In a tragic turn of events, besides being bombed by axis forces, the heavily pro-Partisan city was also bombed by the Allies, causing hundreds of deaths. Partisans finally liberated the city on October 26, 1944. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On February 12, 1945 the Kriegsmarine conducted a daring raid on the Split harbor, damaging the British cruiser Delhi. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Kriegsmarine (English "War navy" was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945 during the Nazi regime superseding the Until the end of war Split was the provisional capital of Croatia.

SFR Yugoslavia

Main articles: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Socialist Republic of Croatia

After World War II, Split became a part of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, itself a constituent sovereign republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: Socialist Republic of Croatia ( Croato-Serbian and Croatian: Socijalistička Republika Hrvatska) was a Socialist state that was a Constituent Socialist Republic of Croatia ( Croato-Serbian and Croatian: Socijalistička Republika Hrvatska) was a Socialist state that was a Constituent The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: During the period the city experienced its largest economical and demographic boom. Dozens of new factories and other companies were founded with the cities population increasing three times during the period. The city became the economic center of an area far exceeding the borders of Croatia and was flooded by waves of rural migrants from the undeveloped hinterland who found employment in the newly built factories, a part of large-scale industrialization and investment by the Yugoslav Federal government. is a process of social and economic change whereby a human group is transformed from a Pre-industrial society into an industrial one

The shipbuilding industry was particularly successful, with Yugoslavia becoming one of the world's top nations in the field. Many recreational facilities were also constructed with federal funding, especially for the 1979 Mediterranean Games, such as the Poljud Stadium, an architectural marvel. The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport games held every four years mainly for nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, where Europe Africa and Asia meet Poljud is a football Stadium in the Croatian city of Split. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Poljud its original name is "Gradski The city also became the largest passenger and military port in Yugoslavia and the center of the Yugoslav People's Army's (Croato-Serbian: Jugoslavenska Narodna Armija, JNA) Coastal Military District (equivalent of a field army) along with the headquarters of the Yugoslav War Navy (Croato-Serbian: Jugoslavenska Ratna Mornarica, JRM). The Yugoslav People's Army (JNA YPA ( Serbo-Croatian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian: Jugoslavenska Narodna Armija or Jugoslovenska The Serbo-Croatian language or Croato-Serbian language (cрпскохрватски језик srpskohrvatski jezik) is a South Slavic Diasystem A Field Army, usually referred to simply as an Army, is a term used by many national Military forces for a formation superior to a Corps and beneath an In 1990 the Yugoslav navy ( Jugoslavenska ratna mornarica) had 10000 sailors (4400 conscripts including 2300 in twenty-five coastal Artillery batteries and The Serbo-Croatian language or Croato-Serbian language (cрпскохрватски језик srpskohrvatski jezik) is a South Slavic Diasystem In the period between 1945 and 1990, the city was totally transformed and expanded, taking up the whole of the peninsula. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. In the same period (considered its golden age) it achieved an as yet unsurpassed GDP and employment level, far above the present day's, and became one of the largest cities in the whole of Yugoslavia. The term Golden age is best known from Greek mythology and legend but can also be found in other ancient cultures (see below

Republic of Croatia

When Croatia declared its independence in 1991, Split had a large garrison of JNA troops (drafted from all over Yugoslavia), as well as facilities and the headquarters of the Yugoslav War Navy (JRM). This led to a months-long tense stand-off between the JNA and Croatian National Guard and police forces, occasionally flaring up with various incidents.

The most tragic such incident occurred in November 15 1991, when the JRM light frigate Split fired a small number of shells at the city. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. The damage was insignificant, but there were a few casualties. In this incident, only the old town was shelled, as it was exclusively Croat-populated. This was the only time in history that a city was bombarded by a military vessel bearing its name. On the same day of the attack, Croat forces damaged the light frigate, forcing it to be abandoned. Sailors of the JRM who had refused to attack Croat civilians, most of them Croats themselves, were left in the vessel's brig.
The JNA and JRM evacuated all of its facilities in Split during January 1992. The economic recession soon began.

Government

The mayor of Split is Ivan Kuret of the Croatian Democratic Union while the City Council currently has the following makeup:^[7]

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)	6 seats
Social Democratic Party (SDP)	5 seats
Velo Misto List	3 seats
Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU)	2 seats
Croatian People's Party (HNS)	2 seats
Independent City List	2 seats
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)	1 seat
Croatian Democratic Republican Party (HDRS)	1 seat
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)	1 seat
Croatian Bloc (HB)	1 seat
Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HČSP)	1 seat

Economy

See also: Economy of Croatia and Croatian privatization controversy

Split's economy has slowly begun to emerge from the recession caused by the transfer to a market economy, and the privatization. The Economy of Croatia is a service-based economy with the service sector accounting for 67% of the total GDP. The Croatian privatization controversy is a common name used to describe matters associated with the Criminal activity which plunged the Republic of Croatia into A recession is a contraction phase of the Business cycle. The U A market economy is a realized Social system based on the Division of labour in which the prices of Goods and Services are determined in a Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business During this shadowy privatization process and the breakdown of law and order caused by the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia, a large number of the city's prosperous companies were utterly ruined by criminal activity and corruption as people enjoying the new government's support scrambled to make as much money as possible by dismantling the industry and selling its property off piecemeal. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: In the sociological field, crime is the breach of a rule or Law for which some governing authority or force may ultimately prescribe a Punishment For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government.
However, in the Yugoslav era the city had been a highly significant economic center with a modern and diverse industrial and economic base including shipbuilding, food, chemical, plastics, textile, paper industry, etc. See also Shipbuilding (song. Shipbuilding is the construction of Ships It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a The food industry is the complex global collective of diverse Businesses that together supply much of the Food energy consumed by the World population. The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals The plastics industry manufactures Polymer materials and offers services in Plastics important to a range of industries including Aerospace, building The Textile industry (also known in the United Kingdom and Australia as the Rag Trade) is a term used for industries primarily concerned with the design The global pulp and paper industry is dominated by North American ( United States, Canada) Northern European ( Finland, Sweden Today most of the factories are out of business (or are far below pre-war production and employment capacity) and the city has been trying to concentrate on commerce and services, consequently leaving an alarmingly large number of factory workers unemployed. It has nevertheless managed to relatively maintain its position as an important transportation, commercial, and administrative center of Dalmatia, ensuring stable, though lethargic economic growth.

The prospects for the future perhaps look somewhat brighter. The new A1 motorway, integrating Split with the rest of the Croatian freeway network, has helped stimulate economic production and investment, with new businesses being built in the city center and its wildly sprawling suburbs. The entire route was opened in July 2005. Events in July The traditional period known as "fence month" (the closed season for deer in England ended July 9 (date varied Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Today, the city's economy relies mostly on trade and tourism with some old industries undergoing partial revival, such as food (fishing, olive, wine production), paper, concrete and chemicals. Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. The Olive ( Olea europaea) is a Species of small Tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Concrete is a construction material composed of Cement (commonly Portland cement) as well as other cementitious materials such as Fly ash and Slag

A government report in late October 2006 released somewhat positive information regarding Split's economy. October events and holidays Children's Book Week ( England) - First Week of October National Day ( China People's Republic Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. In 2005 and 2006, 4,000 new jobs were created in Split's rather large province. Foreign investment in the first six months of 2006 grew by 76%, and for the first time export levels were greater than import levels. Also, Split's economy in the first half of 2006 grew at a 6% rate. Additionally, 2006 brought to Split many shipbuilding jobs, which signify the beginning of revitalization for the once-massive shipbuilding industry in Split.

Geography and climate

Climate chart for Split
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
83   9 5	68   11 6	75   13 8	66   17 11	56   22 15	51   27 19	28   29 21	50   29 21	61   25 18	79   20 14	108   15 10	100   11 6
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm source: [1]
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3. 3   48 41     2. 7   52 43     3   55 46     2. 6   63 52     2. 2   72 59     2   81 66     1. 1   84 70     2   84 70     2. 4   77 64     3. 1   68 57     4. 3   59 50     3. 9   52 43 temperatures in °F • precipitation totals in inches

Split is situated on a peninsula between the eastern part of the Gulf of Kaštela and the Split Channel. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. The Split Channel ( Croatian: Splitska vrata, meaning " Split Gates" or the "Gates of Split " named after the nereby city The Marjan hill (178m), rises in the western part of the peninsula. Marjan (pronounced "maryan" is a low lying mountain Landform ( Hill) on the peninsula of the city of Split, capital of Croatia The ridges Kozjak (779m) and his brother Mosor (1339m) protect the city from the north and northeast, and separate it from the hinterland. Kozjak ( is a mountain that is situated on the border between the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia. Mosor is a mountain range in Croatia located near the town of Split on the Adriatic coast.

Split has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers (maximum air temperature in July reaches 42 °C) and warm, wet winters (average annual rainfall is 900mm). A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide Rain is Liquid precipitation. On Earth it is the condensation of atmospheric Water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall often making it to Split is one of the sunniest places in Europe.

Vegetation is of the evergreen Mediterranean type, and subtropical flora (palm-trees, agaves, cacti) grow in the city and its surroundings. Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering Agave is a succulent Plant of a large Botanical Genus of the same name belonging to the family Agavaceae. A cactus (plural cacti) is any member of the Spine plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas The Marjan hill is covered with a large cultivated forest. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the city of Split had 188,694 citizens, in 2007 this rose to 221,456. There are approximately 410,000 people in the Split metropolitan area. Split has one of the largest demographic growths in Croatia. Demographics or demographic data refers to selected population characteristics as used in government Marketing or opinion research or the Demographic profiles The entire Split-Dalmatia county has around 470,000 residents, with Croats making up 95. Split-Dalmatia County ( Splitsko-dalmatinska županija) is the central-southern Dalmatian county in Croatia. 15% of the population. [2] 88. 37% of the residents of the city are Roman Catholics. [3]

Transport

Split is an important transport center for Dalmatia and the wider region. Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern In addition to the Zagreb-Split freeway (A1), all the road traffic along the Adriatic coast on the route Zadar–Dubrovnik flows through the city. Zagreb (ˈzɑːgrɛb is the Capital and the largest city of Croatia. The A1 highway (Autocesta A1 is a Highway in Croatia. It currently measures 416 km from Zagreb ( Lučko interchange via Split to Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea, with a population of 72717 (2001 ||-||-||-||-||-||-||} Dubrovnik (ˈdǔbro̞ːʋniːk Dalmatian: Ragusa; Latin: Ragusium, also Rhausium, Rhaugia; The city also has an impressive series of expressways and avenues, enabling efficient, fast transit by car around the city and its suburbs.
City public transport is conducted by bus, the city being inadequate for trams due to its hilly structure. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train The local public transport company Promet Split has recently renovated its fleet with the latest models.

The airport in Kaštela is the second largest in Croatia in terms of passenger numbers (1,190,551 in 2007), with year-round services to Zagreb, London, Frankfurt and the Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany, as well as heavy tourist traffic in the summer. Split Kaštela/Resnik Airport is the airport serving Split and Kaštela in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. Kaštela is a series of seven towns in central Dalmatia, located northwest of Split, west of Solin and east of Trogir, in Croatia. Cologne/Bonn Airport ( German: Flughafen Köln/Bonn, also called Konrad-Adenauer-Flughafen or Flughafen Köln-Wahn) is an international Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.
The expansion of the terminal is scheduled to commence in 2008.

The Split passenger seaport is the third busiest port in the Mediterranean, with daily coastal routes to Rijeka, Dubrovnik and Ancona in Italy. Rijeka (other Croatian dialects Rika and Reka, Reka Italian and Hungarian: Fiume, Sankt Veit am Pflaumb is ||-||-||-||-||-||-||} Dubrovnik (ˈdǔbro̞ːʋniːk Dalmatian: Ragusa; Latin: Ragusium, also Rhausium, Rhaugia; Ancona (Ankon is a city and a seaport in the Marche, a region of central Italy, population 101909 (2005 During the summer season Split is connected with other Italian cities as well, such as Pescara. Tim Parks, from On the Beach Italian Style on Daily Telegraph, 6 January 2007 |The genius of Pescara Most of the central Dalmatian islands are only reachable via the Split harbour (with Jadrolinija and Split Tours ferries). Jadrolinija is a Croatian sea Shipping company founded in Rijeka on January 20, 1947. Split Tours is a Croatian tourist agency founded in 1992. The agency organizes trips to Dalmatian islands by ferries, catamarans and other See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and This includes the islands of Brač, Hvar and Šolta, as well as the more distant Vis, Korčula and Lastovo . Brač (ˈbɾaːtʃ Latin Bretia, Brattia; Italian: Brazza; German: Bratz; is an island in the Adriatic Hvar ( local Croatian dialect: Hvor or For, Pharos Φαρος Pharina Lesina is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, located off Šolta ( Italian: Solta) is an Island in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. Vis ( Greek: Issa) is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, the furthest inhabited island Korčula ( Greek Κορκυρα Μελαινα Latin Corcyra Nigra, Korkyra Melaina, Old-Slavic Krkar, Venetian Lastovo ( Italian: Lagosta, German: Augusta, Latin: Augusta Insula, Greek: Ladestanos, Illyrian

Split is the southernmost integrated point of the Croatian Railway network. Croatian Railways ( Hrvatske željeznice, ( HŽ) is the national railway company of Croatia, formed after the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Within Split's city centre, railway traffic passes two tunnels before reaching the Central Station. The line to Split is unremarkable; a journey from Split to Zagreb or Rijeka takes around 5 hours, as the line is unelectrified and consists of only one track. Currently, there are no definite plans to upgrade the line, but with the start of work on the new Zagreb-Rijeka railway line in October 2007, the line to Split may very well see renovation in the near future.

The Split Suburban Railway network opened in early December 2006. Future projects In the near future the underground station Split-Sud is to be opened connecting to the Hrvatske Bratske Zajednice Square It currently has one line, running from the Split city harbour to Kaštel Stari. Kaštela is a series of seven towns in central Dalmatia, located northwest of Split, west of Solin and east of Trogir, in Croatia. The line is expected to get a second track and be fully electrified by 2008. New, low-floor trains are expected to be implemented as well. This line will also be lengthened, to encompass the aforementioned Split International Airport, and continue on to the towns of Trogir and Seget Donji. Trogir ( Italian & Dalmatian: Traù, Tragurium Greek Tragurion, Trau is a historic town and Harbour on the Adriatic Trogir ( Italian & Dalmatian: Traù, Tragurium Greek Tragurion, Trau is a historic town and Harbour on the Adriatic
Split also plans to construct a mini-metro that is to be operational by 2009.

Culture

Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Croatia
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii, iv
Reference	97
Region†	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	1979  (3rd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Since 1979, the historic center of Split has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex As of 2008 there are a total of 878 World Heritage Sites located in 145 "State Parties" Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. Asia Minor, Cyprus, all of the Aegean Islands, the Canaries A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Split is also known as one of the centers of Croatian culture. Its literary tradition can be traced to medieval times, and includes names like Marko Marulić, while in more modern times Split excelled by authors famous for their sense of humor. Marko Marulić ( Split, August 18, 1450 - Split January 5, 1524) was a Croatian Poet and Christian humanist Among them the most notable is Miljenko Smoje, famous for his TV series Malo Misto and Velo Misto, with the latter dealing with the development of Split into a modern city. Miljenko Smoje ( February 23, 1923 - October 22, 1995) was a Croatian writer and journalist
Despite colorful settings and characters, as well as a cinema tradition that could be traced to early 20th century works of Josip Karaman, there were relatively few films shot in or around Split. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on However, the city did produce several famous actors, most notably Boris Dvornik. Boris Dvornik ( April 16 1939 – March 24 2008) was a Croatian actor

Also well known is Ivo Tijardović, and his famous operetta "Little Floramye" (Mala Floramye). Ivo Tijardović (b September 18, 1895 in Split, Croatia; d March 19, 1976 in Zagreb, Croatia was a Croatian Both Smoje and Tijardović are famous artists thought to represent the old Split traditions that are slowly dying out due to the city being overwhelmed by large numbers of rural migrants from the undeveloped hinterland. The old Split families still cling to the littoral Dalmatian way of life and values, often publicly stating their disgust at the ruralization of the ancient city.

Split also houses two important archaeological museums - one dedicated to antiquity, another to the early medieval period. The most recognisable aspect of Split culture is popular music. Notable composers include Ivo Tijardović, Zdenko Runjić - some of the most influential musicians in former Yugoslavia. Ivo Tijardović (b September 18, 1895 in Split, Croatia; d March 19, 1976 in Zagreb, Croatia was a Croatian Zdenko Runjić (born October 26, 1942 in Slavonski Brod, during the Independent State of Croatia, died October 27, 2004 There is great cultural activity during summers, when the prestigious Split Music Festival is held, followed by Split Summer (Splitsko ljeto) theater festival. The Split Festival (officially Festival zabavne glazbe Split) is a Music festival held annually in Split, Croatia. The largest pop-concerts in Split since Croatian independence have been held by Mišo Kovač, Thompson, and a night of traditional klapa singers from across Dalmatia, all at Poljud Stadium. Mišo Kovač (born July 16, 1941) is a Croatian singer who used to be one of the most popular musical icons of the former Yugoslavia. Thompson is a Croatian rock band led by Frontman musician Marko Perković who is often identified with the band itself being his Stage name. ^[8]

Sports

Sportsmen are traditionally held in high regard in Split, and the city is famous for producing many champions. A sportsperson ( British and American English) or athlete (principally American English is any person who participates regularly in a Sport. The most popular sports in Split are football (soccer), tennis, basketball, swimming, rowing, sailing, waterpolo, athletics, and handball. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles) Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance GB coxless pair of Toby Garbett & Rick Dunn at Henley Royal Regatta 2004 Sailing is the art of controlling a Sailing vessel. By changing the Rigging, Rudder and dagger or centre board a Sailor manages the force Water polo is a team water sport A team consists of six field players and one Goalkeeper. Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, or Olympic handball) is a Team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six

The main football (soccer) club is HNK Hajduk, arguably the most popular club in Croatia, while RNK Split is the city's second club. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered A football team or a football club, in football (soccer is the collective name given to a number of players who play together in a Football game be it Association HNK Hajduk Split is a Croatian football club one of two most popular football clubs in the country RNK Split ( Radnički nogometni klub "Split") is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split. The largest football stadium is the Poljud Stadium (HNK Hajduk's ground), with 35,000 capacity (55,000 prior to the renovation to an all-seater). Poljud is a football Stadium in the Croatian city of Split. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Poljud its original name is "Gradski Basketball is also popular, and the city basketball club, KK Split (Jugoplastika Split), holds the record of winning the Euroleague three consecutive times (1989-1991), with notable players like Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa both of whom are Split natives. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m KK Split (Košarkaški Klub Split is a Basketball club from Split, Croatia. EuroLeague WomenThe Euroleague (EL is one of the professional Basketball competitions in Europe, with teams from thirteen different European countries Toni Kukoč (ˈkʊkɔtʃ (born September 18 1968 in Split, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a retired Croatian Dino Rađa, transcribed in English as Dino Radja (born April 24, 1967, in Split, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia

Split's most famous tennis stars are the retired Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević, and Mario Ančić ("Super Mario"). Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles) The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious Goran Šimun Ivanišević ( ɡǒran iʋanǐːʃɛʋiʨ born in Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia on September 13 1971 is a former professional Tennis Mario Ančić (born March 30 1984 is a professional Tennis player from Croatia, and a graduate of Law from the University of Split. Members of the local rowing club HVK Gusar won numerous Olympic and World Championship medals. GB coxless pair of Toby Garbett & Rick Dunn at Henley Royal Regatta 2004 HVK Gusar Split is a Rowing club from the city of Split, Croatia. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The World Rowing Championships is an International rowing Regatta organized by FISA (the International Rowing Federation
Swimming also has a long tradition in Split, with Duje Draganja and Vanja Rogulj as the most famous swimmers from the city. Duje Draganja (born February 27, 1983 in Split) is a swimmer from Croatia who won the silver medal in the men's 50 meter freestyle at the Vanja Rogulj (born February 13, 1982 in Split) is a Breaststroke Swimmer from Croatia, who competed in two consecutive As a member of the ASK Split athletics club, the champion Blanka Vlašić also originates from the city. Blanka Vlašić ˈʋlaʃitɕ}} (born November 8 1983 in Split, Croatia) is a Croatian High jumper and current world The biggest sports events to be held in Split were the 1979 Mediterranean Games, and the 1990 European Athletics Championships. The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport games held every four years mainly for nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, where Europe Africa and Asia meet The European Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the European Athletic Association.

Split will be one of the host cities of the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship. The 21st World Men's Handball Championship will take place from January 16 to February 1, 2009 in Croatia. The city will have a new arena built for this event. The cost of the arena will be evenly divided between the city and the government. ^[9]

Picigin is a traditional local sport (originating in 1908), played on several of the city beaches (Bačvice). Picigin (pronounced "pih-tsih-gheen" is an amateur sport game played on some Beaches in Croatia. It is played in shallow water with a small ball. There is a tradition of playing picigin in Split on New Year's Day, regardless of the weather conditions, in spite of the sea temperature rarely exceeding 10 °C. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale.

Sister cities/towns

• Los Angeles, USA
• Ancona, Italy
• Antofagasta, Chile
• Punta Arenas, Chile
• Bet Shemesh, Israel
• Cockburn, Australia
• Dover, United Kingdom
• Gladsaxe, Denmark
• Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Odessa, Ukraine
• Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Pescara, Italy
• Štip, Republic of Macedonia
• Trondheim, Norway
• Velenje, Slovenia
• Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf of Berlin, Germany

See also

• Split-Dalmatia county
• Diocletian's Palace
• Jadro River
• Marjan
• HNK Hajduk Split
• Marko Marulić

References

External links

• Official Split web page
• Split travel guide from Wikitravel
• Split information (including Diocletian's palace)
• Split Dalmatia

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