Salon

Salona, now located in the municipality of Solin near Split, is a place of enormous historical and archaeological importance. This ancient Roman city was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and covered an area of over 80 hectares. Founded in the 3rd century BC, Salona thrived under Roman rule until its destruction by the Avars and Slavs in the 7th century. Salona provides an impressive testimony of life and culture in ancient Rome. The city was protected by mighty walls, built in various periods using different construction techniques, including the huge squared stones of opus quadratum. These walls surrounded a city rich in public and private monuments, including the forum, an amphitheater, several basilicas, and baths. The forum of Salona, located in the heart of the city, was the center of public and political life. This rectangular open space housed administrative buildings and temples, including the capitolium dedicated to the Capitoline triad of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. During the Augustan period, the forum became a symbol of Roman power in Dalmatia, adorned with statues and inscriptions celebrating the emperor and his victories. One of the most fascinating monuments of Salona is the amphitheater, built in the 2nd century AD. It could accommodate up to 18,000 spectators and was used for gladiator fights and other forms of public entertainment. The amphitheater of Salona is one of the best-preserved in the region and offers an extraordinary glimpse into the culture of entertainment in ancient Rome. Salona is also particularly significant for the study of early Christian architecture and society. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the city saw the construction of numerous churches and basilicas, some with cemeteries containing tombs of Christian martyrs. The episcopal center of Salona, with its twin basilicas and baptistery, was an important place of worship and ecclesiastical administration. Regional councils were also held here in 530 and 533, convened by Archbishop Honorius. The Caesarea Gate, one of the main entrances to the city, is another notable example of Roman architecture in Salona. Built during the reign of Augustus, this gate was flanked by octagonal towers and decorated with reliefs representing Tyche, the personification of the city. The gate also served as part of the aqueduct that supplied Salona with water, demonstrating the ingenuity of Roman hydraulic systems. The Manastirine area, located northeast of the city, is an archaeological site of great interest. Here are the remains of a paleochristian basilica and a cemetery where many of the early Christian martyrs of Salona were buried. This site was explored and documented thanks to the efforts of Frane Bulić, considered the father of Croatian archaeology, who built the Tusculum as a base for his research. The Roman theater of Salona, built in the 1st century AD, is another example of the city’s cultural richness. With a capacity of about 3,000 spectators, the theater was a meeting place to attend theatrical performances and other cultural events. The ruins of the theater offer a suggestive view of the daily life and leisure habits of ancient Romans. Salona was not only an administrative and cultural center but also a place of great economic importance. Its streets were lined with tabernae, shops, and artisan workshops, where lively commercial activities took place. The city was connected by a well-developed network of roads, facilitating trade and the transport of goods throughout the province. Despite its destruction in the 7th century, Salona continues to live on through its ruins. The archaeological site is now a archaeological park, visited by tourists who can explore the remnants of this great Roman city. The numerous inscriptions, mosaics, and sculptures found in Salona are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Split, providing further details on the life and culture of the city.