Diocletian's Cellars

The vaulted ceilings of Diocletian’s Cellars hold up the heart of the city above. These stone chambers mirror the layout of the imperial apartments that once rested on the floors above, serving as a massive foundation for the retirement villa of a Roman emperor. For centuries, the people of Split used these cool, dark spaces as a massive trash bin, filling them with refuse until they reached the ceiling. It took years of excavation to clear the debris and reveal the original proportions.