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Cathedral of Saint Domnius

Cathedral of Saint Domnius

Cathedral of Saint Domnius
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsChurches & Cathedrals
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Monday
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Friday
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
About
Cathedral of Saint Domnius in Split Country Croatia Denomination Roman Catholic Architecture Style Ancient/Romanesque Years built 4th century Clergy The Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Croatian: Katedrala Svetog Duje), known locally as the Sveti Dujam or colloquially Sveti Duje, is the Catholic cathedral in Split, Croatia. The cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Split-Makarska, headed by Archbishop Marin Barišić. The Cathedral of St. Domnius is a complex of a church, formed from an Imperial Roman mausoleum, with a bell tower; strictly the church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the bell tower to Saint Domnius. Together they form the Cathedral of St. Domnius. The Cathedral of Saint Domnius, consecrated at the turn of the 7th century AD, is regarded as the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world that remains in use in its original structure, without near-complete renovation at a later date (though the bell tower dates from the 12th century). The structure itself, built in AD 3
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  • Ciaoyoga
    Maldon, United Kingdom220 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating history
    Fascinating place. Definitely worth a visit. Visit the treasury first as there is lots of information in there across 3 floors. There is a lift for the treasury. A guided tour might be worthwhile or buy a guide. Go earlier in the day to avoid crowds. There are different ticket options.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 October 2023
  • Kawaii D
    The Netherlands251 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Many stairs, but great view
    Visited on July 2022. To go inside you needed to pay beforehand at the tourist center. That row was long.... and the row for the tower was also long..... but it was worth it. You get a great view over the city. Only warning is, that the stairs arent even at hight and also there are a lot of stairs. on some places the rail were missing to hang on to.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 November 2023
  • tinaNtravel
    San Jose, California2,096 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Cathedral
    For 15 euros you can purchase one ticket for the Cathedral, Crypt, Baptistery, Treasury and the Bell Tower. The Cathedral is beautiful with some beautiful gold angels and the Tabernacle above and behind the altar. The marble altar is also quite stunning. There are other beautiful sculptures and paintings in the Cathedral as well. Apparently, this is the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the world that remains in use, in its original structure, that has not undergone recent renovations. That alone makes it worth the visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 January 2024
  • 301lisa33
    Coventry, United Kingdom2,013 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gilded splendour!
    Gilded splendour! This cathedral is located at the heart of the old palace. It is tiny. It has a hexagonal footprint with a substantial extension. The altar is located between them forming a barrier. Entrance is 5 euros which feels pricey
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 7 June 2024
  • 138Paul138
    Canterbury, United Kingdom1,381 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historical little gem
    You require a ticket to enter. The ticket office is directly opposite the Cathedral’s entrance. There are a choice of tickets. For 9 euro per adult we were able to visit the Treasury, Baptistry, Crypt and the Cathedral. Other options include going up the Bell tower. The Cathedral itself is tiny do not expect a vaulted ceiling and a mass of columns, that said it is beautiful inside and still used to this day. No restrictions on taking photos. Lots for the eye to take in. Unfortunately I could not see any method for a wheelchair user to gain entry. As part of our 9 euro ticket I thought it was well worth it.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 24 June 2024
  • Ph Ma
    48 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sorting out the myriad choices at the best of Split
    The "Chinese menu" of options was so overwhelming, that we took photos to analyse later in peace and calm, outside of the heat. We paid for the red ticket, which was for the cathedral, treasury (in the ticked building, so it is closed during the "shift changing" period!), crypt, and baptistery. Truth be told, the crypt and baptistery (formerly the temple of Jupiter) are not worth the money. The crypt is a bare crypt with nothing but a statue of Lucy, holding her eyes on a plate. The baptistery is also empty, with an empty set of square stone slabs, and a rather grim modern statue of John. That said, cathedral + treasury = €10, the same as the red ticket, which includes the crypt and baptistery. So ... you get 2 extra things that are at least a break from the heat. The treasury is worth the visit! Unlike most "treasuries" this one had a great collection of silverware, bits and pieces of saints, including some skulls, paintings, ad more over two floors in four rooms. Again, the building is closed during the shift change, and a huge crowd forms during this, and when it reopens.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 August 2024
  • nwaynesworld
    2,745 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cathedral
    Very nice cathedral located within the Diocletian Palace in Split. There is a fee to enter and to climb up the bell tower. The bell tower may not be for the faint of heart! Nice views from the bell tower. Long line ups when the cruise passengers are on shore.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 September 2024
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James
Colchester, UK466 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2019
Originally built as Emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum, the Cathedral of St. Domnius has become one of the iconic symbols of Split. It’s built in an octagonal shape and considered to be one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings still standing. In the 5th century, the Christians destroyed Diocletian’s sarcophagus and converted his tomb into a church dedicated to one of his victims.

A ticket into the cathedral also includes entry into the crypt, treasury, and baptistry (Temple of Jupiter). The bell tower, which was built much later between the 13th and 16th centuries, offers unmatched views of Split’s Old Town and of Diocletian’s Palace from above. Tickets for the bell tower are sold separately. This is high (figuratively and literally) on the list of things to do in Split. Sadly, my girlfriend and I couldn’t experience it, as the bell tower was closed on the day we visited.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

55imtiazu
Islamabad, Pakistan26 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
The purchased ticket is for the Cathedral which was formerly a Mausoleum and Temple of Jupiter. The stairs to go to the top of the clock tower, the highest point are too steep, initially and people having claustrophobia should definitely avoid it. The ticket for the Clock tower climb is separate.
Written 22 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JSTrip_77
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina1,233 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
I will admit that the cost of the ticket sort of turned me off. Plus, the packages of tickets either end up making visitors with limited time waste their money. I do understand that this church requires (and is undergoing) preservation but the number of tourists who visit should better amortize those costs. Anyway, the cathedral is unique in its history. The structure was the original tomb of the retired Roman emperor who built the palace...and was later "desecrated" and turned into a church. That's the principle reason the structure looks so unlike most cathedral churches we might have visited in our journeys. The interior is small but stunning. It is so incredible to walk around looking at decorations that have existed since Roman times and in really good condition. I elected not to pay to climb the bell tower but that looks like it would have been fun. I was just out of time.
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

isabel
Lisbon, Portugal27 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Its quite pretty the cathedral, even if its very, very small. Unique place for sure. But the free entrance is 75 K, around 10 Euros, which is too much for what you get. But in Croatia, aftar pandemic prices went up crazely!
I did not visit the tower, just the Cathedral.
My sugestion is you visit the Cathedral before 8 am, this way you do not pay entrance fee
Written 21 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

T K
Limerick, Ireland459 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2020
We bought the combined ticket so we could see the Cathedral of St Domnius, Bell Tower, Crypt, Treasury and Baptistery and it only cost 55 kuna each. Great value.

I must say even though there are a few steps to the top, every step is worth it. The views are fantastic. We were so lucky that it wasn't really that busy at the time we went so we had great viewing points.

So much history to the area and you would spend a couple of hours at least enjoying all at hand. I really enjoyed the museum. A must see when in Split.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ginges_revenge
Brisbane, Australia5,863 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
As part of a multi / combo ticket, you could access the bell tower as part of the package.
You need to show / scan your ticket on the way in and make your way up to the entrance of the tower and squeeze into the little entrance of the tower to start the climb up the stairs. The 1st part is a little tight then it opens up to a more easy climb up the internal new part of the stairs.
You can get views as you go up and the views from the top on our beautiful sunny day were fantastic.
Well worth spending the money to get in and climb the tower.
Written 22 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RicherTrips
Monterrey, Mexico4,589 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2021
The Cathedral, former Dioclesian’s mausoleum, is the highlight of this beautiful town.

The tickets box is in the opposite side of the Perystile, where you can choose between the 4 different options. Some tickets include just the Cathedral , or the crypt, the baptistery, the treasure or the Bell tower. Consider that the tower may have a long line to climb.
The Baptestry is the former Jupiter Temple, so it’s a must. Inside the Cathedral , the baroque altarpiece is as beautiful as the corner gothic tombs; and don’t skip the back of the altar, to admire the choir stalls.
Written 17 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

starlightShanghai
Victoria, Canada4,609 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
There’s a real sense of irony to the Cathedral of St. Domnius.

Originally, the structure was intended as the mausoleum of the greatest of all persecutors of Christians, the Emperor Diocletian (c. 243 - 316 A.D.)

However, in the middle of the 7th century, the structure became a Catholic cathedral. (It seems that Diocletian was never interred here anyway, and his final resting place remains a mystery,)

The purpose of the crypt below the cathedral was apparently purely structural - to support the floor above.

(I gave climbing up the Bell Tower a miss, having that same morning already climbed to the top of Marjan Hill.)

There’s a huge amount of history attached to this cathedral and a dearth of information labels/boards on site, so it’s best to take along a guide book and/or a local guide.
Written 21 December 2021
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2extreme4U
Karlsruhe55,617 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
The Cathedral and the Campanile of Split (Croatian: Prvostolnica Uznesenja Blazene Djevice Marije) are buildings worth seeing. The cathedral was originally the mausoleum of Diocletian, but was then converted by the early Christians. Entry to the church costs €5, climbing the bell tower costs €7. The Purple combination ticket including other sights costs €15. It is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The church is worth seeing from the inside and there is a great view from the church tower, so both things are recommended.
Google
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jbg74
Saint Paul, MN1,098 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021
The interior of the cathedral is worth a quick visit but the best part is the incredible views of the town from the bell tower. It is fun walking all the way up and looking down on the medieval and modern portions of Split. Great photo opportunities abound on the bell tower.
Written 10 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Split

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