User:Saxum/Pjaca

The Pjaca, officially known as the Narodni trg (People's Square), is a square in the historical core Split, located just west of the Diocletian's Palace.

Background
Following the death of Diocletian in 311, his palace which he had built near Salona, the regional capital of Roman Dalmatia, became government property. Despite the emperor's death, life in the Palace continued. Exactly who inhabited the Palace is uknown, however, it is possible it was used by the emperor's personnel. The number of its inhabitants is also uknown; according to historian Jacques Zeiller and archaeologist Frane Bulić, the palace's population in the late 4th century must have been substantial. It is also possible that the popluation of the Palace grew in the 5th century following the decline of Pannonia which might have prompted migration towards fortified coastal cities. In 597, Avars and Slavs began raiding Dalmatia. Salona was destroyed in 614. resulting in the exodus of its population. Once the situation improved, people began returning and settling into the well-preserved Palace whose walls offered protection. The Palace's new population soon began building new housing and adapting existing structures in order to adress their needs, slowly turning the Palace into a city.

Present-day

 * Palača Ciprianis-Benedetti (14-19)
 * Pavlović Palace (16th century)
 * Palača Nakić
 * Old City Council
 * Palača Karepić + most (Sv. Lovre)