Diocletian's Cellars

Diocletian’s Cellars are a network of stone halls and vaulted passageways beneath Diocletian’s Palace in Split. The substructures supported the buildings above and preserve a sense of the palace’s original layout. Walk beneath the arches, read the information boards and look for the filming location used for Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons in Meereen in Game of Thrones. A central passage links the Peristyle with the Riva promenade; some sections contain a small market and museum displays.

The palace beneath the palace

The cellars consist of halls, passageways, pillars and vaulted ceilings beneath Diocletian’s Palace. Their structure supported the buildings above, and the arrangement of the substructures gives clues to the palace’s original layout.

The chambers were used to store goods such as wine and food. Today, parts of the complex house a museum, art exhibitions and souvenir stalls. The mix of ancient stonework and modern uses is especially visible in the central passage, where stalls sit beneath the arches.

Entrances and passageways

You can reach the cellars from the Riva by the seafront or descend from the Peristyle. The central route connects the square with the promenade and is free to enter. Other sections, including museum areas beside the entrance from the Riva, require an entrance fee.

The steps from the Peristyle are steep, and the stone underfoot can be slick. Information boards explain the site’s history as you explore. The cellars also served as a filming location for the scenes with Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons in Meereen in Game of Thrones.