Solin

Solin, a suburb of Split in Croatia, developed on the site of ancient Salona, capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and birthplace of Emperor Diocletian. First mentioned as an Illyrian city in 119 BC, Salona became a Roman colony between 40-33 BC and grew into one of the empire's largest cities with an estimated 60,000 inhabitants. The archaeological park -- Croatia's largest -- preserves city walls with 90 towers (erected 170 AD), a forum, a theatre seating 3,500, and a 2nd-century amphitheatre holding up to 17,000 spectators. The city was catastrophically destroyed in the 7th century by Avar and Slavic invasions, with survivors fleeing to Diocletian's Palace in nearby Split.