Split, Croatia on the Dalmatian Coast with a not so hidden secret! As you can see from the map above, the old city is built in the ruins of the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s 4th C palace. When it was built it housed thousands and the remains today include 200 buildings. Within the white stone walls and under its courtyards and galleries are shops, cafes, bars, Cathedrals, hotels and even houses.
When you walk around and discover, you will see the world’s oldest Catholic Cathedral in the world.
You will see architecture from the Roman period, Venetian time , and Medieval times.
My personal story was that we stayed in a small hotel built in the ruins which was important to the architect ! When we were sitting at a table on the promenade ordering dinner, we were given a very substantial menu. When I ordered lamb, the children soup and husband steak, the waiter said, “Meat or fish.” So we tried again not understanding the routine. I said, “pork chops” and husband, “Salmon.” Again. . . .”Meat or fish.” Ah. . . we are no dummies! Husband said, “fish” and I said, ” Meat.” And we were served meat or fish ! This was during a very hard time of upheaval politically, and the government rationed food for the people but wanted tourists to visit for obvious reasons. Yugoslavian friends said that coffee was rationed to one pound a month for them but tourists were given what they wanted. Obviously meat was available even for tourists as meat or fish! We learned about living in a society where the government controlled prices but couldn’t control the availability. Great video showing the Roman ruins.
The big surprise of Split is that you very well may have “visited” if you are a fan of “Game of Thrones!”
TalesAlongTheWay 
Fascinating that they chose Croatia for Game of Thrones, but when I see pics, it makes total sense. What a neat place to visit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Add it to your list. I imagine it was the scenery and the cost. . . .much less, I imagine that places with similar ruins. Thanks for the visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I learnt this at School but had to go research to remind myself…Good share and decent article..But these are the 10 oldest Catholic Churches in the World (Europe). This is since the disintegration of Yugoslavia and Croatia.
1. Dura-Europos church
In our list of oldest churches of the world, The Dura-Europos church is the earliest identified Christian house church. It is located in Dura-Europos in Syria and dates from 235 AD
2. Megiddo church
Megiddo church in Tel Megiddo, Israel is one of the oldest church buildings ever discovere by archaeologists, dating to the 3rd century AD
3. Monastery of Saint Anthony
The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery standing in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Hidden deep in the Red Sea mountains, it is located 334 km (207 miles) southeast of Cairo.
4. Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains basilica
Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains basilica is a historic church building in Metz, France that was built in 380 AD and is one of the oldest churches in Europe.
5. Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the most important church in Ethiopia. The original church is believed to have been built during the reign of Ezana, the first Christian emperor of Ethiopia, during the 4th century AD
6. Cathedral of Trier
Cathedral of Trier is a church in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
7. Church of Saint Simeon Stylites
The Church of Saint Simeon Stylites is a well preserved church that dates back to the 5th century, located about 30 km northwest of Aleppo, Syria.
8. Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261
9. Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai
Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinaiies on the Sinai Peninsula, at the mouth of a gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai in Saint Katherine city in Egypt.
10. Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth, and thus it is considered sacred by Christians. The site is also revered by followers of Islam
I don’t know where you found this but it’s historically incorrect..
Split, City in Croatia. Split, a town on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, is known for its beaches and the fortresslike complex at its center, Diocletian’s Palace, erected by the Roman emperor in the 4th century. Once home to thousands, its sprawling remains include more than 200 buildings. Within its white stone walls and under its courtyards and galleries are shops, bars, cafes, cathedrals, hotels and several houses.
You ask a question about Christian Archeology, a very important topic because of the Catholic’s Church claim of apostolic origin. We can trace the Catholic Church back to the time of Christ by means of the unbroken succession of Roman pontiffs. In fact, we know exactly where St. Peter was buried.
There are various archaeological claims for the oldest Catholic Church in the world, and each has its own merits, whether in the Holy Land at Rihab in the Jordan, or in the Vatican at St. Peter’s. The Church of Saint Simeon Stylites in Syria dates back to the 5th century AD and is well preserved. Parts of the ancient burial monument of St. Peter are embedded in the foundations of that great basilica and date from around 67 AD; also parts of the original Constantinian Basilica of St. Peter (@ 320AD) can be found in the current version of St. Peters.
xx Very intersting topic. I don’t think we will every fully know the oldest church…But the oldest Houst in the World is in Glasgow, sits in the middle of a main road 😀 Tourist crap in reality.
LikeLike
Shaun, I have learned there are lots of ways to determine age of things. THe Hindus say that Varanasi is 9000 old making it the oldest city in the world. Archaeologists say it is in the top 10 oldest. As you say, who knows for sure. Here is Wikipedia disagreeing with your research. Last paragraph. There are caveats so maybe that is the difference.
Cathedral of Saint Domnius
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cathedral of Saint Domnius
Cathedral of Saint Domnius in Split
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius
Country Croatia
Denomination Roman Catholic
Architecture
Style Romanesque
Clergy
Bishop(s) Marin Barišić[1]
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Croatian: Katedrala Svetog Duje), known locally as the Saint Dujam (Sveti Dujam) or colloquially Saint Duje (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 305 as the Mausoleum of Diocletian, is the second oldest structure used by any Christian Cathedral.[2][3]
LikeLike
Nice one Anne, love Split of course 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is special place.
LikeLike