CASSAS, LOUIS FRANCOIS: VIEW OF SPLIT AND ITS QUARANTINE HOSPITAL

During his sojourn in Dalmatia, Cassas also visited the town of Split. This view offers a view over this town as seen form the cap of Bačvice. In the foreground, we can see Diocletian’s palace the largest and best preserved late antique palace in the world. In Roman times, the northern part of the palace housed servants and soldiers, whilst its southern part housed the Emperor’s apartment. The palace was alimented with water from the river Jadro conveyed through the acqueduct a part of which is still in use.  From the original complex remain the walls, 3 towers, all four gates (Golden, Silver, Iron and Bronze gate), the Emperor’s Mausoleum (today’s church of St. Doimo), the Temple of Jupiter or Temple of all gods and the central square - Peristyle. When the 16th century Split became an important export port so called Turkish scaffolding with quarantine hospital was built that can be also seen in Cassas’s view. The map image is dominated by the bell-tower of St. Doimo, today’s symbol of the city of Split.