Palace Judita Heritage Hotel

The hotel takes its name from the epic poem "Judita," written in 1501 by Marko Marulic, a native son of Split hailed as the "father of Croatian literature." One of the rooms bears his name, and the hotel invokes Croatian history throughout through old framed photographs and local antiques. Most of the furniture is contemporary, but original brick archways and stone walls were preserved in many places, giving aesthetically pleasing backdrops to decorative pieces such as the film projector from 1899 that belonged to the first pioneering cinema to open in Croatia.

The hotel is located in the city's main square near Diocletian's Palace, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops. Nearly all the tourist attractions are within walking distance, including the harbor and the popular Bacvice Beach. Split is one of the largest cities on the eastern Adriatic Coast and a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site whose roots date back to at least the 6th century B.C. Diocletian's Palace and Mausoleum, the Grgur Ninski Statue, and natural coves that form several great beaches make it a popular tourist destination with a rapidly developing hotel and restaurant scene. Split Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel, though guests may have to factor in extra time for navigating the immediate neighborhood, which is pedestrian-only.

Each room is individually decorated and named after different historical figures from the region, but all have hardwood floors and original stone walls. Varying color palettes combine with natural wood furniture and plush contemporary bedding. Luxurious accents like shiny silk curtains and Swarovski crystal lamps may be too garish in places, but overall the rooms allow the old stone to shine in great natural light. The windows are thoroughly soundproofed, preventing noise from the square outside from becoming a problem. The large rooms all have small desks and cushioned sitting areas with minibars and electric tea pots, but no coffeemakers. The contemporary bathrooms have shower/tub combos, heated floors, and towel racks fit for royalty.

All guests are welcomed with a glass of wine (or beverage of their choice), and every room gets a free bottle of local Croatian wine made by local winemakers, along with some sweets. in the middle of the hotel there's a small open-air living room lounge where guests can enjoy a drink or play board games in their downtime. The bar and cafe also share a great outdoor terrace in front of the hotel on the square. Free breakfast includes some local specialties and eggs cooked to order, though the restaurant doesn't serve lunch or dinner. Since it's is in a pedestrian zone with free off-site parking, the hotel uses a little electric car to shuttle guests to their cars, for free.