Port history

Greek Aspalathos

The foundations of present-day Split were laid by Greek settlers from Vis, who in the 4th or 3rd century BC established Aspalathos, a trading post for commerce with the neighbouring Illyrian tribes.

Diocletian's Palace and Roman Spalatum

With the Roman conquest of Illyrian Salona, Aspalathos came under Roman rule (Spalatum). In 305 the Roman Emperor Diocletian retired to the palace he had built in a quiet bay, unaware that he was laying the foundations of the future port and maritime city of Split.

An autonomous maritime city

In the 12th century, thanks to a geographical position that offered links with the mainland and its deep hinterland as well as trade connections with settlements across the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, Split developed overland trade along caravan routes and maritime trade through its port.

At that time Split became an autonomous maritime city and expanded beyond the walls of Diocletian's Palace. The city had its own warships and army and its own revenues, concluded trade agreements with other free cities, minted its own coin, the "spalatin", and had a port with a shipyard and a merchant fleet that carried passengers and goods across the Adriatic and the Mediterranean.

Export port of the Balkans and the Lazaretto

In the 16th century Split became the main export port of the Balkan Peninsula. Merchant caravans arrived in Split from all over the Ottoman Empire, and even from India and Persia, and from there the goods were shipped to Venice under the escort of armed galleys. Goods from Venice were also exported to Ottoman lands through Split.

The Lazaretto was built — a place where goods were disinfected and quarantine was carried out — and the first money-lending house (bank) was founded.

Austrian and French rule

After the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Split came under Austrian occupation, replaced by French rule from 1806 to 1813. In this period trade flows took other directions: over newly built roads Split maintained its commercial links with its strong Bosnian hinterland, Serbia and even Bulgaria and Romania, bringing goods to its well-known Lazaretto, from where they were collected by ships from the Adriatic and the Black Sea.

Second period of Austrian rule

During the second period of Austrian rule (1813–1918) the Lazaretto in Split was closed and caravans were banned from entering the city, which led to the stagnation of the local economy.

Economic growth and the railway

After 1850 Split saw gradual economic growth and developed into the commercial centre of its immediate hinterland and the nearby islands. A large breakwater was built, which boosted the development of the port. A railway line was built towards Siverić and Knin, and in 1925 it was connected via Gospić to the Rijeka – Zagreb – Belgrade line.

As early as 1882 Split had taken on the character of the political, cultural, national and economic centre of central inland and coastal Dalmatia.

Industrialisation of the port

With the development of industry in the region in the early 20th century, the Port of Split became the centre of cargo traffic for this part of the Adriatic.

Separation of passenger and cargo traffic

In recent times the City Port has been expanded and new specialised cargo terminals have been built, separating passenger traffic from cargo traffic. The southern part of the port, next to the historic centre, is used for passenger traffic, while cargo traffic has been moved to the industrial zone — the northern part of the port, the Vranjic-Solin Basin and the Kaštela basins.