Salona Archaeological Site

Address: Salona archaeological park, near Solin (close to Split), Croatia

Admission: Adult admission to the archaeological site typically modest (local currency / seasonal); combined tickets with adjacent museums may be available

Salona is the archaeological site of the ancient Roman city of Salona, located adjacent to the modern town of Solin in Croatia. It was the principal city of the Roman province of Dalmatia and is today important for its extensive Roman and early Christian ruins.

Visitors can see the remains of an amphitheatre, city walls and gates, public buildings and early Christian basilicas, along with necropoleis that contain carved tombstones and mosaic floors. The site is one of the largest Roman archaeological complexes on the eastern Adriatic coast.

Salona was a major urban centre in Roman times and flourished through the imperial period until the 7th century when invasions and population movements led to decline and abandonment; material recovered at the site documents its civic and religious life under Roman rule. Excavations and conservation have been ongoing since the 19th century.

The ruins sit immediately north of modern Solin, roughly 5 to 7 kilometres northeast of Split on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, in a low coastal plain close to the Adriatic Sea.

• Proximity to Split: The ruins lie immediately north of the modern town of Solin and are about 5-7 kilometres northeast of the centre of Split, making them easily reachable from Split.
• Roman remains: The site preserves visible remains from Roman Salona - including walls, an amphitheatre and basilicas - and is a primary archaeological attraction in the region.

What to See#

• Amphitheatre: A well preserved Roman amphitheatre located within the site, visible as a large stone oval used for public spectacles during the Roman period.
• City walls and gates: Extensive city walls and gates that once enclosed the Roman city, with surviving stretches and archaeological traces observable on site.
• Necropoleis and basilicas: Necropoleis and early Christian basilicas surrounding the ancient city, including burial grounds with carved tombstones and mosaic floors uncovered by excavations.

Salona is near the town of Solin, about 5-7 km northeast of Split. From Split, local buses and taxis go regularly to Solin; the archaeological park is a short walk from the town centre. Driving from Split takes about 10-15 minutes.

• Explore early morning for cooler temperatures and softer light on the ruins.
• Bring a guide or download a detailed map-many inscriptions and fragments are not well labelled on site.
• Combine a visit with Solin's small museum to see Roman mosaic finds and reconstructions often removed from the open site.