UNESCO LANDMARKS

Šibenik Cathedral

Something of an engineering miracle, Šibenik’s Cathedral of St James is the only European cathedral to be made entirely of stone. It was built during the 15th and 16th centuries from a design by Zadar-born Juraj Dalmatinac, whose statue sits in front of the building. Its barrel-shaped roof is unusual, and its cupola was inspired by the Duomo in Florence.

Dalmatinac didn’t live to see the cathedral finished, but he did manage to sculpt the figures in the Gothicrenaissance baptistery. One of its most striking features is its frieze of 71 life-size human heads that decorate the apse. The faces were drawn from a rich cast of local characters, whose expressions range from angry to quizzical. Legend has it Dalmatinac used the faces of those who refused to fund the cathedral’s construction.

Diocletian’s Palace, Split

It feels surreal sipping coffee surrounded by the preserved ruins of ancient Roman pillars and grand arches that make up Diocletian’s Palace, which covers a substantial chunk of Split’s Old Town. It was built around the 3rd century as the Roman emperor Diocletian’s retirement home, though he lived in it for only 11 years before he died. Its ruins were colonised by refugees from the nearby Roman town of Salona, setting the pattern for centuries.

Nowadays, the central courtyard, Peristil, is an atmospheric setting for summertime classical concerts. It sits beside the 4th-century St Dominus Cathedral, whose 13th-century belltower you can climb for superb views. The underground chambers hold cultural events including plays, art exhibitions and the weeklong, springtime International Flower Festival.