Archaeological Museum Split

The Archaeological Museum in Split holds the title of the oldest museum institution in Croatia and ranks among the must-see cultural stops in Split, Dalmatia.

Where did this museum come from?

The institution was established by a decree of the Dalmatian government in Zadar in 1820, making it the oldest museum on the territory of present-day Croatia. Its first director was Frano Lanza, a physician and archaeologist. The original premises stood along the eastern walls of Diocletian's Palace, right in the ancient heart of the city. A turning point came in 1884, when the priest and archaeologist Don Frane Bulić took over as director — he was the driving force behind the construction of the museum's current building. The new structure went up between 1912 and 1914, designed by Viennese architects August Kirstein and Friedrich Ohmann in Neo-Romanesque style, and it opened its doors to visitors in early 1922.

How do you get to the museum?

The museum sits at Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25, just outside the old town walls but still within easy walking distance of central Split and Diocletian's Palace — roughly a ten-to-fifteen-minute stroll from the Riva waterfront promenade. The building's Neo-Romanesque red-brick facade stands out clearly from the stone architecture of the historic core, making it easy to spot.

What will you see inside?

The collection comprises around 150,000 archaeological artifacts, a portion of which is displayed in the permanent exhibition. The holdings span the prehistoric era, the period of Greek colonization along the Adriatic coast, the Roman provincial period, early Christianity, and the early Middle Ages, including the era of Croatian native rulers. The museum organizes its holdings into distinct collections: an epigraphic collection (stone inscriptions, mostly from ancient Salona), a numismatic collection, a prehistoric collection, a Greek-Hellenistic ceramics collection, a Roman provincial collection, a late antique collection, a medieval collection, an underwater archaeology collection, and a collection of artworks and decorative crafts. Separate holdings also cover monuments from the modern and contemporary periods. Since 1878 the museum has published its own scholarly journal, "Vjesnik za arheologiju i historiju dalmatinsku" (Bulletin of Archaeology and History of Dalmatia), one of the oldest archaeological periodicals in the region, still issued today.

Does the museum run branches outside Split?

Yes. It operates a branch site in nearby Solin, tied to the ancient city of Salona and the Tusculum site. Beyond that, it manages two regional centers: one in Vid near Metković, home to the collection from ancient Narona, and one on the island of Vis, where finds from ancient Issa are displayed in the Gospina Batarija building. This network means the museum's reach extends across much of central Dalmatia, not just Split itself.

When is the best time to visit?

The museum operates year-round, and its short distance from the old town makes it a convenient afternoon stop when the midday sun makes wandering the historic core less pleasant. Plan for at least an hour, longer if you want to take in the epigraphic and numismatic collections in detail — among the richest of their kind in the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Archaeological Museum in Split the oldest museum in Croatia? Yes, it was founded in 1820 by decree of the Dalmatian government in Zadar, making it the country's oldest museum institution.

How many artifacts does the collection hold? The collection includes roughly 150,000 archaeological artifacts spanning from prehistory to the early Middle Ages.

Who designed the current museum building? The 1912–1914 building was designed by Viennese architects August Kirstein and Friedrich Ohmann in Neo-Romanesque style.

Does the museum have branches in other towns? Yes — a branch in Solin (Salona, Tusculum) and regional centers in Vid near Metković (Narona) and on the island of Vis (Issa).