Churches and Cathedrals to Visit in Croatia

Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is lined with old stone towns whose cathedrals mix Roman, Romanesque and Venetian work. This chapter begins with the most extraordinary of them: the Cathedral of St Domnius in Split, built as the tomb of a Roman emperor.

The bell tower of Split Cathedral above the Roman arches of the Peristyle — Split Cathedral, inside Diocletian’s Palace — where this guide to Croatia begins. Photograph by Dejana Popovici on Pexels.

Split is the main ferry port for the Dalmatian islands, with an airport about 23 kilometres away.

Where to start

Cathedral of St Domnius, Split

Diocletian’s mausoleum, a cathedral since the 7th century, with a 57-metre bell tower to climb.

Split

Practical notes

At a glance
Admission	Cathedrals usually charge, often with combined tickets for towers and treasuries
Dress	Shoulders and knees covered; no beachwear
Currency	Croatia uses the euro
Sundays	Visits pause for Mass, usually in the morning

Coming next

The cathedral of St James in Šibenik, a UNESCO site, Trogir Cathedral with Radovan’s portal, and Dubrovnik Cathedral are the obvious next additions.