Spalato.

Title

Spalato.

Very beautiful hand-coloured total view of Split on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia with two sailing ships offshore. Based on the original drawing by E. Biermann, engraved by P. Ahrens.

ca. 1840

Artist

Kunstanstalt d. Oestr. Lloyd

Historical Description

Spalato, today’s Split, is located on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia and has a history spanning over 1,700 years. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Spalato was initially under Byzantine rule, and later came under Venetian, Hungarian, and Croatian influence. The city’s population grew within the palace walls, with many Roman buildings converted into residential houses. From the 15th century, the city was under Venetian rule (until 1797) and developed into an important trade and port center. After the fall of Venice, Spalato briefly came under Austrian rule, later becoming part of Yugoslavia and eventually Croatia. Today, Split is one of the largest cities in Croatia and a cultural and tourist hub, famous for the Diocletian Palace, its historic old town, and its harbor.