Split
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section is missing citations and/or footnotes.
This article or section may use words or ideas of other works in its text without citing sources. Using citations to support claims outside the realm of elementary knowledge helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. Please improve the article or discuss this issue on the talk page. Help on using footnotes is available. This article has been tagged since February 2007. |
| Split | |||
|
|||
[[Image:
  Split
Split (Croatia)
|
|||
| Coordinates: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Croatia | ||
| County | Split-Dalmatia | ||
| The construction of Diocletian's palace, although some earlier constructions were discovered. | 295 | ||
| Area | |||
| - Town | 63 km² (24.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Town | 221,456 | ||
| - Metro | 408,000 | ||
| Website: www.split.hr | |||
 |
||
| State Party |  Croatia |
|
| Type | Cultural | |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv | |
| Identification | #97 | |
| Region2 | Europe and North America | |
| Inscription History | ||
| Formal Inscription: | 1979 3rd WH Committee Session |
|
| WH link: | http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/97 | |
|
1 Name as officially inscribed on the WH List |
||
Split (Latin: Spalatum, Greek: Ασπάλαθος) is the largest and most important city in Dalmatia, the administrative center of Croatia's Split-Dalmatia County and is the second largest city in Croatia. It is situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Split is situated on a peninsula between the eastern part of the Gulf of Kaštela and the Split Channel. A hill, Marjan (178 m), rises in the western part of the peninsula. The ridges Kozjak (780 m) and Mosor (1,330 m) protect the city from the north and northeast, and separate it from the hinterland.
Split has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers (maximum air temperature in July reaches 36°C) and warm, wet winters (average annual rainfall is 900 mm). Split is one of the sunniest places in Europe.
Vegetation is of the evergreen Mediterranean type, and subtropical flora (palm-trees, agaves, cacti) grow in the city and its surroundings. Marjan is covered with a cultivated forest.
[edit] Population
According to the 2001 census, the city of Split has 188,694 citizens, in 2007 Split has 221,456 there are about 400,000 people in the Split metro area. Split has one of the biggest demographic growths in Croatia. Whole Split-Dalmatia county has about 470,000. Croats make up 95.16% of the population and are the only recognized autonomous nationality. 88.37% of the residents of the city are Roman Catholics.
[edit] History
Although the beginnings of Split are usually linked to the building of Diocletian's Palace, there is evidence that this area was inhabited as a Greek colony even earlier. The area's urban tradition is, thus, many thousands of years old, not least due to the proximity of Salona, the capitol of the entire Dalmatia province during the time of the Roman Empire.
Diocletian was a Roman emperor who ruled between AD 284 and 305 and was known for his reforms and persecution of Christians. He ordered the work on the palace to begin in 293 in readiness for his retirement from politics in 305. The palace faces the sea on its south side and its walls are 170 to 200 m (570 to 700 feet) long and 15 to 20 m (50 to 70 feet) high, and it encloses an area of 38,000 m² (9½ acres). This massive structure was long deserted when the first citizens of Split settled inside its walls. In 639, the interior was converted into a town by the citizens of Salona who escaped the destruction of their town by the Avars. Over the centuries, the city has spread out over the surrounding landscape, but even today the palace constitutes the inner core of the city, still inhabited, full of shops, markets, squares, with even a Christian cathedral (formerly Diocletian's mausoleum) inserted in the corridors and floors of the former palace. Although part of Byzantine Empire, the town had political autonomy.
The rise of the early Medieval Croatian state in neighbouring littoral (coastal cities) and the hinterland provoked in the following centuries Split developed a Croatian character, which can be seen in the architecture of churches in the city and surroundings, and which led to the unity of the church with Split at the center in 928; it is important to mention that there was a big church synode, where a clerical jurisdiction over Croatia and relations of Latin-rite and Croat (slavic)-rite in church in Croatia were discussed.
At that time Split was also the capital city of medieval Croatian duchy and later, kingdom; Croatian duke/king ruled from this city, as well as from some other nearby townlets: Solin, Klis, Bijaći and Omiš.
On the peninsula, position on the west of the southern city port there was a medieval benedictine monastery of "St. Stephen under pines" (San Stephanus de Pinis), or in Croatian "Sveti Stipan pod borima". The peninsula got the name after that monastery - Sustipan. Most famous inhabitant of that monastery was the son of Croatian king Demetrius Zvonimir (in Croatian: Dmitar Zvonimir), Stephen (in Croatian: Stipan). The founder of that monastery was the archbishop of Split, Lovre (in English: Lawrence), a big friend of the king Zvonimir. The monastery was founded in 1069.
At the beginning of the 12th century Split was led by nobility of Kingdom of Croatia-Hungary. The city however maintained independence, as in 1312 it issued statues and had currency of its own. The Venetian Republic took control of Split in 1420, when the population was almost exclusively Croatian. The autonomy of the city remained, though somewhat reduced: the highest authority was a prince-captain who was always of Venetian birth.
During the Middle Ages and under Venetian rule Split developed into an important port city with trade routes to the interior through the nearby Klis pass. Culture flourished as well, Split being the hometown of Marko Marulic, a classic Croatian author. Marulic wrote Judita (1501) in Split, and published it there (1521). It is widely held to be the first modern work of literature in Croatian.
Still, all those achievements were reserved mostly for aristocracy, illiteracy rate was extremely high, because Venetian ruler showed no interest in educational and medical facilities.
Venice held Split until its own downfall in 1797. The city fell to Austria-Hungary after a brief period of Napoleonic rule (1806–1813). Big investments were undertaken during that time; some new streets were built, as well as some old fortification objects were removed.
Under Austria, however, Split stagnated. But, that stagnation was still much bigger growth and development, compared to Venetian rule. The general upheavals in Europe starting in 1848 gained no ground in Split.
[edit] Split in the 20th century
After the end of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the province of Dalmatia, along with Split, became a part of The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which in 1929 changed its name to Yugoslavia). After both Rijeka and Zadar, the two other large cities on the eastern Adriatic coast, were annexed by Italy, Split became the most important port in Yugoslavia.
In new country, Split has became the seat of new administrative unit, Littoral Banovina.
The Lika railway, connecting Split to the rest of the country, was completed in 1925.
After the agreement Cvetković-Maček, Split became the part of new administrative unit (merging of Sava and Littoral Banovina plus some Croat populated areas), Banovina of Croatia in Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
In April 1941, following the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis, Split was occupied by Italy and formally annexed one month later. Italian rule met heavy opposition from the Croat majority, and almost a third of the population joined Tito's Partisans. The local football clubs refused to compete in the Italian championship; Hajduk suspended its playing, while all the members of RNK Split joined the Partisan forces.
In September 1943, following the capitulation of Italy, the city was liberated by Partisans only to be occupied by the Wehrmacht a few weeks later. During the occupation, some of the port facilities as well as parts of the old city were damaged by Allied bombing. Partisans finally liberated the city on October 26 1944. On February 12 1945 the Kriegsmarine conducted a daring raid on the Split harbour, using explosive boats and damaging the British cruiser Delhi in the process. Until the end of war Split was the provisional capital of Partisan-controlled Croatia.
After WWII, Split became a part of Croatia, itself a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It continued to grow and develop as an important commercial and cultural center. The city drew a large number of rural migrants who found employment in the newly built factories, a part of a large-scale industrialization effort. In the period between 1945 and 1990, the population tripled and the city expanded, taking up the whole peninsula.
When Croatia declared independence in 1991, Split had a large garrison of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), as well as facilities and the headquarters of the Yugoslav Military Navy (JRM). This led to a months-long tense stand-off between the JNA and Croatian military and police forces, occasionally flaring up with various incidents.
The most spectacular such incident occurred in November 15 1991, when the JRM, including the light frigate Split, fired a small number of shells at the city. No part of the city was seriously damaged, but there were human casualties. It is important to note that exclusively the old town was shelled, because in that part of Split were Croat cultural and historical monuments. Also, that part of town was exclusively Croat-populated. This was the only time in history that a city was bombarded by a military vessel bearing its name. On the same day of the attack, Croat forces damaged the frigate Split, forcing it later to be abandoned. One sailor who had refused to fight was left in the vessel's brig.
The JNA finally evacuated all of its facilities in Split during January 1992.
[edit] Economy
Split's economy has begun to emerge from the recession caused by the transfer to a market economy. In the Yugoslav era, it was an important economic centre with a diverse industrial base including shipbuilding, food, chemical, plastics, clothing, paper industry, etc. Today most of the socialist factories are closed down and the city has been concentrating on commerce and services, consequently leaving a significant portion of factory workers unemployed. It has neverthelss managed to maintain its position as an important transportation, commercial, and administrative center of Dalmatia, ensuring stable, though somewhat lethargic economic growth.
The prospects for the future look brighter. The new A1 motorway, fully integrating Split with the rest of the Croatian Motorway network, has immediately helped stimulate economic production and investment, with countless new businesses and properties springing up in the city center and its suburbs. The entire route was opened in July 2005. Today, the city's economy relies mostly on trade and tourism with some old industries undergoing revival, such as food (fishing, olive, wine production), paper, concrete and chemicals.
A government report in late October 2006 released some extremely positive information regarding Split's economy. In 2005 and 2006, a massive 4000 new jobs were created in Split and its province. Foreign investment in the first six months of 2006 grew at an incredible 76%, and for the first time export levels were greater than import levels. Most notably, Split's economy in the first half of 2006 grew at a very high 6%. All of these figures are considerably far above the national average. Additionally, 2006 brought to Split numerous important shipbuilding jobs, which are crucial to the revitalization of the shipbuilding industry in Split.
[edit] Transport
Split is an important transport centre for Dalmatia and the wider region. In addition to the Zagreb-Split motorway (A1), all the road traffic along the Adriatic coast on the route Zadar–Dubrovnik flows through the city. The city also has an impressive series of expressways and avenues, enabling efficient, fast transit by car around the city and its suburbs.
The airport in Kaštela is the third largest in Croatia in terms of passenger numbers (1,095,852 in 2006), with year-round services to Zagreb and Frankfurt and Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany and heavy tourist traffic in the summer. Terminal expansion is to commence in 2008.
The Split passenger seaport is one of the largest on the eastern Adriatic coast with daily coastal routes to Rijeka, Dubrovnik and Ancona in Italy. During summer season Split is connected with other Italian cities as well, such as Pescara. Most of the central Dalmatian islands are only reachable via the Split harbour (with Jadrolinija and Split Tours ferries). This includes both the closer islands of Brač, Hvar and Šolta, and the more distant Vis, Korčula and Lastovo.
Split is the southernmost integrated point of the Croatian Railway network. The line to Split is unremarkable; a journey from Split to Zagreb or Rijeka takes around 5 hours, as the line is unelectrified and consists of only one track. Currently, there are no definite plans to upgrade the line, but a general transport improvement bill, to be passed by the Croatian Parliament in July 2006, may see the renovation of the line in the near future.
The Split Suburban Rail netwrok opened in early December 2006. It currently has one line, running from Split-Harbour to Kaštel Stari, but is being revamped with brand-new stations and reconstruction of existing ones. The line is expected to get a 2nd track and be fully electrified starting in 2008. New, low-floor trains are expected as well. This line will also be lengthened, to encompass the aforementioned Split International Airport and continue on to the city of Trogir and Seget Donji. Split has a mini-metro that is to be operational by 2009.
[edit] Culture
Split is also known as one of the centres of Croatian culture.
Its literary tradition can be traced to medieval times, and includes names like Marko Marulić, while in more modern times Split excelled by authors famous for their sense of humour. Among them the most notable is Miljenko Smoje.
Split also houses two important archeological museums - one dedicated to antiquity, another to the early medieval period.
The most recognisable aspect of Split culture is popular music. Notable composers include Ivo Tijardović, Zdenko Runjić - some of the most influential musicians in former Yugoslavia.
There is great cultural activity during summers, when the prestigious Split Music Festival is held, followed by Split Summer (Splitsko ljeto) theatre festival.
Despite colourful settings and characters, as well as cinema tradition that could be traced to early 20th century and works of Josip Karaman, there were relatively few films shot in or around Split.
[edit] Sport
Split's most famous resident is the former tennis star Goran Ivanišević. Another successful tennis star is Mario Ančić ("Super Mario"), also from Split. The local football team is Hajduk Split. Basketball is also popular. The basketball club KK Split (Jugoplastika) is keeping the absolute record of winning Euroleague three consecutive times (1989-1991) with notable players like Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa, both of whom are Split natives. Members of the local rowing club Gusar won numerous Olympic and world championship medals. Other popular sports are: swimming, handball and sailing. Also few famous swimmers, Ante Mašković, Vanja Rogulj etc.
The biggest sports events to be held in Split were the Mediterranean Games in 1979 and the European Athletics Championships in 1990.
Picigin is a local sport played on several of the city beaches (Bačvice etc)imported from northen parts of Adriatic coast. It is played in shallow water with a small ball. There is a tradition of playing picigin in Split on New Year's Day, regardless of the weather conditions, even though the sea temperature rarely exceeds 10 degrees Celsius.
Football stadium is Poljud, with 35,000 capacity (55000 before renovating to an all-seater). A new project for a handball arena (12,500 capacity) has been started.
[edit] Sister cities/towns
Ancona, Italy
Antofagasta, Chile- Punta Arenas, Chile
Bet Shemesh, Israel
Cockburn, Australia
Dover, United Kingdom
Gladsaxe, Denmark
Los Angeles, USA
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Odessa, Ukraine
Ostrava, Czech Republic- Pescara, Italy
Štip, Republic of Macedonia
Trondheim, Norway
Velenje, Slovenia
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf of Berlin, Germany
[edit] External links
- Official Split web page
- First Split web page (created in 1995)
- Diocletian palace - in English
- Torcida football fans
- Split on Google Maps
- Split Travel Guide
- Split city guide
- Split travel guide
| edit | Municipalities of Split-Dalmatia County |  |
|---|---|---|
|
Split |
||
