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Split (Italian: Spalato, Latin: Spalatum, Greek: Aspalathos) is the largest and most important city in Dalmatia, the administrative center of Croatia's Split-Dalmatia County. It is situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea. The majority of its citizens are Croats: 95.15% (2001 census). Split is situated on a peninsula between the eastern part of the Gulf of Kastela 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.
Population According to the 2001 census, the city of Split has 188,694 citizens; there are about 300,000 people in the metro area. 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. 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. 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 Medieval Croatian state in the hinterland provoked in the following centuries a slow Croatization of Split, 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, Biaći 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 Hungarian nobility. 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. Venice held Split until its own downfall in 1797. The city fell to Austria-Hungary after a brief period of Napoleonic rule (1806–1813). Under Austria, however, Split stagnated. The general upheavals in Europe starting in 1848 gained no ground in Split. Split in the 20th century
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 goverment 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. Transportation
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 relativley few films shot in or around Split. Sport
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