Venetian Castle, Medieval fortress in Split, Croatia.
The Venetian Castle is a 15th-century medieval castle in Split, built from 1441 just south-west of Diocletian's Palace along the shoreline. It had an irregular pentagonal shape with three towers facing north over the city. Today only the large central tower and the smaller eastern tower, joined by a connecting wall, stand on Radić Brothers Square, also called Fruit Square.
Construction began in 1441 after Venice took control of Dalmatia, with the fortress built on the site of an earlier monastery in this strategic coastal location. The Napoleonic Wars brought major changes when Marshal Auguste de Marmont ordered demolition of the southern walls from 1806 to 1807.
The castle stood on the shoreline just south-west of Diocletian's Palace, and its three north-facing towers overlooked the city. Its remains now share Radić Brothers Square, called Fruit Square (Voćni trg), with the large central tower and smaller eastern tower linked by a wall.
The ruins are easy to reach on foot in Split's old town, especially if you are already visiting Diocletian's Palace nearby. Early morning or late afternoon visits tend to be quieter and offer better conditions for seeing the stone structures clearly.
The castle was built on the grounds of a demolished monastery, and its irregular pentagonal plan had three towers facing north over the city. Only the central tower, the smaller eastern tower and the connecting wall survive on Fruit Square.
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