Amphitheatre Salona — Attraction in Grad Solin

This is a comment on an unpleasant experience we had at this site, not on the ruins themselves. We had about 40min of time and decided to check out this site. My husband went to enquire about everything. He was told the parking was free, but also that the area to visit was big, with different locations. It was immediately clear we did not have enough time. So we decided to go for a short stroll. The parking lot is right by the Roman ruins which are in a big, open field, visible from any direction. We took some pictures and walked down a small public road. There was a cute old house there, where a young guy in a white T-shirt was sitting with his phone. The house had a plaque indicating it was part of the ruins, so we stayed outside the fence. We took pictures of the building and old houses on the other side of the road. It was extremely hot, so my husband retrieved hats and water from the car, and we continued to where the road became a dirt path. We took more pictures of the back of the ruins and vegetation. At the turn, the path became a paved sidewalk along a busy street, so we decided to turn back after resting for a moment. At the parking lot, I saw the guy in the white T-Shirt taking pictures of our licence plate. I asked him what he was doing, and he said we didn't pay for the parking. We said we were told the parking was free. He said it was free only for people with tickets. We explained this isn't what the man in the booth said. He reponded that even if that's true, we should know that there is nothing like free parking in Croatia. Well, we didn't. By the way, the parking lot is huge, and we were one of only five cars there, so we weren't taking anyone's space. I started wondering who this man was, and if this was a scam because he did not identify himself. He then told us that he saw us taking pictures. We said we didn't  know this was forbidden. We were in the parking lot, and then on a public road and we took pictures of what we saw from there. We weren't hiding this. There were no signs informing this wasn't allowed. These ruins are in the open, so even when I took a panorama of Split they were in my picture. I explained this. The man said we didn't pay for the ticket, and so we shouldn't be taking any pictures, except for the other side of the road. I asked how we could know this, and he said he was shaking his head at us when he saw us doing this. I explained we didn't observe him shaking his head, and if we did, we wouldn't know what it meant. In fact, we didn't even realize he was an employee until now. I asked why he didn't simply tell us not to take any pictures if this was not allowed? All of this seemed to make him angrier. We heard that if we couldn't afford the tickets we should have asked him to take pictures for us, that what we did wasn't ok, that we tricked him, and he saw us going back there, and he has it on the cameras. Again, I explained we sat at the end of the path and NEVER entered the site, which he could check with the cameras. At this point it felt like a verbal assault in public, with people staring. Frankly, I started shaking inside, and my husband attempted to calm the situation down by apologizing for any possible offence we committed. From that point on the young man ignored me completely. In the end, he scolded us again for doing a "not Ok" thing, but said he will "tolerate" it this time. This horrible, humiliating and unfair experience ruined our day completely, and frankly permanently tinted our positive memories of Croatia.  Here are my suggestions to any authorities in charge of this site: 1.Please clearly post whether or not this is a free parking, or free with some limitations. 2.If you don't want people to take pictures, please post this information on signs, or better yet, build a fence around the site. 3.Please train your employees on how to approach public with any issues in a polite and considerate manner. Most people mean well, and there is no need to assume the worst and humiliate anyone. This was a public relations disaster that, sadly, will be...

The amphitheatre in Salona, Croatia is a true testament to the architectural and engineering achievements of the Roman Empire. Located just a few kilometers outside of Split, this well-preserved structure offers visitors a glimpse into the ancient world of gladiatorial combat and entertainment.

Constructed in the 2nd century AD, the amphitheatre was used to host a variety of events, including gladiatorial games, animal hunts, and theatrical performances. With a seating capacity of over 15,000 people, it was one of the largest amphitheatres in the Roman Empire.

Today, visitors can explore the amphitheatre and its surrounding ruins, which include a number of impressive arches, columns, and other architectural features. The amphitheatre itself is particularly impressive, with its massive stone walls and intricate system of arches and tunnels.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the amphitheatre is the way in which it was built. Without the benefit of modern construction equipment, the Romans were able to create a structure that was not only functional, but also beautiful. The precision of the stonework and the intricate details of the arches and columns are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the Roman builders.

If you're interested in history, architecture, or just enjoy exploring ancient ruins, the amphitheatre in Salona is definitely worth a visit. It's a fascinating glimpse into the world of ancient Rome and a reminder of the enduring legacy of one of the world's...

We have owned an apartment not far from Solin for a few years and driven past on the coast road on numerous occasions but never realised the Roman ruins of Salona were so impressive and worth visiting. The ampitheatre has not been well preserved and has houses close by, a couple of which are built on the site itself.

The other parts of the ruins have been better cared for and provide an insight in to life in the Roman Empire. Salona is believed to have been home to 60,0000 inhabitants in it's heyday, making it one of the largest Roman cities.

Emperor Diocletian is believed to have been born in Salona and is thought to explain why he decided to build his retirement Palace in Split in 300AD.

The site as a whole offers a fascinating insight in to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and its persecution followed by adoption of Christianity. This is exemplified by the juxtaposition of the ampitheatre where Christians, including the patron saint of Split, Saint Domnius (Sveti Duje) was executed by Diocletian in 304AD, and the Basilica.

The magnificent cathedral in Split built within the heart of Diocletian's Palace, which is dedicated to the saint, offers a bitter irony between the lasting legacies of the Christian persecutor Diocletian and Saint Duje.

The whole complex takes around 2-3 hours to navigate. There is very little shade across the site so dress appropriately in summer or come equipped with plenty...