8 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Hidden Roman Passage Unearthed Beneath Split: A Secret Gateway into Diocletian’s Palace Revealed

A groundbreaking discovery beneath Hrvojeva Street, near Diocletian’s Palace, is reshaping our understanding of Roman life and architecture in the heart of ancient Dalmatia.

During a routine restoration of Hrvojeva Street in Split, archaeologists stumbled upon a long-lost underground corridor buried for over five centuries. This hidden Roman guard passage, connecting the bustling street directly to the legendary cellars of Diocletian’s Palace, had remained sealed off and forgotten since the time of the Ottoman incursions.

Now, this newly uncovered route offers a rare window into the daily rhythms of imperial Rome.

“In the time of Emperor Diocletian, this space was alive with movement and purpose,” Vesna Bulić Baketić, Director of the City Museum of Split, told HRT. “Today it’s silent, but we’re uncovering the layers of a once-thriving world.”

A Time Capsule Beneath the City

Archaeologists had originally been searching for a 17th-century tower reportedly demolished during the Ottoman threat. Instead, they found a doorway to the past — a tunnel woven into the palace’s eastern wall. Experts believe it once linked the palace cellars with stairs leading to Diocletian’s upper apartments, later repurposed by a bishop whose garden replaced imperial quarters.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



“The passage may have played a critical role in the palace’s transformation from imperial residence to ecclesiastical stronghold,” explained lead archaeologist Nebojša Cingeli.

Entrance to the newly discovered Roman guard passage beneath Hrvojeva Street, connecting directly to the ancient cellars of Diocletian’s Palace. Credit: HRT/Screenshot

The discovery is part of a larger conservation initiative to restore the palace vaults and strengthen Split’s historic infrastructure. It also opens up new archaeological frontiers: the mysterious tower owned by the noble Ciprianis family remains elusive, hinting that further secrets lie just beneath the surface.

Open to the Public — Forever

Previously, the palace cellars had only one entrance and one exit. With this second access point now open, the passage not only enhances visitor safety but deepens the immersive experience of Split’s ancient heritage.

Jasna Jerkov, Head of the Department for the Old Town and Heritage, emphasized the value of extended excavation efforts:

“This find proves the importance of exploring every stone, every wall. The palace is still speaking to us.”

Now permanently accessible to the public, the hidden passage is more than just a structural marvel — it’s a rediscovered artery in the lifeblood of Split’s Roman legacy.

Cover Image Credit: South view of Diocletian’s Palace in Split.

Related Articles

Sacred Sanctuary of Phrygian Mother Goddess Matar Unearthed in Attouda Ancient City

2 October 2025

2 October 2025

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery has been made in Attouda Ancient City, located in the Sarayköy district of Denizli, Turkey. Excavations...

İnkaya Cave excavations in Türkiye’s western uncovers 86,000-year-old traces of human life

22 August 2023

22 August 2023

In the excavations carried out in the İnkaya Cave in Çanakkale, located in the northwestern part of Türkiye, in addition...

2,700-year-old bronze figurine found in Germany’s Tollence River: goddess or weight?

9 April 2022

9 April 2022

A Bronze Age female figurine discovered in the Tollense River in northern Germany may have been a goddess, part of...

Outrage in Türkiye: 3,000-Year-Old Unesco Tomb in Phrygian Valley Turned Into Café

1 July 2025

1 July 2025

A 3,000-year-old rock-cut tomb located in the historical Phrygian Valley—hailed as Türkiye’s “second Cappadocia” and listed on the UNESCO World...

Archaeologists Uncover Asini’s Hidden Ancient Port Beneath the Waves of Greece

11 March 2025

11 March 2025

An international team of underwater archaeologists has made a groundbreaking discovery at the submerged site of Asini, near Tolo in...

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

7 November 2024

7 November 2024

A milestone from the Roman Emperor Gordianus III period, which dates to 239 AD, was discovered in the Fatsa district...

Findings showing the connection between Troy and Tavşanlı Höyük have been reached

23 August 2022

23 August 2022

Archaeologists unearthed 4,200-year-old hazelnut remains and marble idols during excavations at Tavşanlı Höyük (Tavsanlı Mound), located in the central Turkish...

2,500-Year-Old Burial Site in Negev Highlands Reveals Ancient Trade Routes and Evidence of Human Trafficking

5 February 2025

5 February 2025

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday the discovery of a 2,500-year-old burial site in the Negev Highlands. This significant...

6000-Year-Old Salt Production House Rewrites Europe’s History

31 March 2021

31 March 2021

Archaeologists in the UK have found an ancient stone age-era salt-production house in North Yorkshire, estimated to be older even...

New study reveals the Milky Way’s hidden role in ancient Egyptian mythology

11 April 2024

11 April 2024

The ancient Egyptians were keen observers of the night sky. They incorporated their astronomical observations into their religion, mythology, and...

In Parion, one of the most important cities of the Troas region, 2,000-year-old mother-child graves were unearthed

1 November 2022

1 November 2022

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Parion, the most important harbor city in the Hellenistic era, have uncovered  2,000-year-old...

A center on the Anatolian Mesopotamian trade route; Tavsanli Mound

24 October 2021

24 October 2021

Excavations at Tavşanlı mound, which is known to be the first settlement in Western Anatolia during the Bronze Age, continue....

Ancient Mesopotamians bred horse-like hybrids

17 January 2022

17 January 2022

New research finds that Mesopotamians were utilizing hybrids of domesticated donkeys and wild asses to drive their war wagons 4,300...

A 2,000-year-old Roman grave belonging to soldier Flaccus unearthed in Netherlands

9 December 2024

9 December 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,000-year-old grave from the Roman settlement in Heerlen, Netherlands. The latest analysis has shown that it...

Coin hoard found in fireplace ‘belonging to Scottish clan chief’ murdered at infamous Glencoe Massacre

17 October 2023

17 October 2023 1

Coins believed to have belonged to a Scottish clan chief murdered in an infamous 17th-century Glencoe massacre, have been found...