Split

Split first appeared across a sweep of intensely blue water, its waterfront gathered beneath a long ridge of pale mountains. From the harbor, the city's layers were already visible: working docks in the foreground, the palm-lined Riva along the shore, and the bell tower rising above terracotta roofs.

Once ashore, we paused beside the promenade before entering the old city. The relaxed cafés and bright Adriatic light made the Riva feel like Split's front porch—a place where travelers arrived and local life unfolded at an unhurried pace.

The Cathedral of Saint Domnius carried another of Split's extraordinary transformations. What began as Emperor Diocletian's mausoleum eventually became a Christian cathedral, while its tall bell tower grew into the defining landmark of the old city.

Seen above the layered palace walls, the tower made the city's long history feel almost tangible. Roman foundations, medieval additions, and present-day life occupied the same view, each era adapting what the previous one had left behind.