Split

Today we visited Split, a city with a rich Roman history including its most famous attraction, Diocletian’s palace. Diocletian was an emperor of the Roman Empire and upon being one of the only emperors in history to step down from office, he built his palace which remains today in Split. Being my first time traveling to Europe, I am amazed by how many historic structures remain, and by how well preserved they are. Along with our previous stops in Istria, including the amphitheater in Pula, Split reminds me of the significant influence that Romans had in many areas of Croatia. This is significant to public health because the Romans were innovators in many areas of public health, realizing the link between exposure and resulting disease. This is an example of how early public health efforts were conducted, using trial and error and simple observations. These observations lead the Romans to develop aqueducts for providing clean water, sewer systems to remove contact with waste and to create public baths for cleanliness. Ancient Romans believed that the main goals of life were health, beauty, and happiness, and baths became a central part of the Roman life. These baths, many of them public, were places for more than just bathing. They often included attached gymnasiums and were central social meeting spots. These baths were precursors to the health and wellness spas that are found throughout Europe today.

Some of these innovations can be seen today inside Diocletian’s palace, including in the basement where remains of the plumbing infrastructure are on display. The ancient Romans used aqueducts to pull water into the city, not using the common lead pipes of the day, because they realized from trial and error that lead made them sick. Walking through the basement of Diocletian’s palace, I couldn’t help but wonder if .there may be health implications from breathing the air. While an interesting sight, there was a lot of moisture and mold growing on many of the walls. I tried to discover if regular air quality checks were conducted to see if it was safe for the many tourist, while unable to find an exact answer I have doubts. This mold combined with possible radon from the stone and rocks of the basement could have significant respiratory health implications if at high enough levels.

After an afternoon of touring the palace and surrounding areas, we finished the day in Split with a visit to the former home and museum of renowned artist Ivan Mestrovic. One of the best known artists in the region, the works of Mestrovic can be seen throughout Croatia, including the statue of Nikola Tesla in downtown Zagreb. Nikola Tesla is an important Croatian figure and is known as the discoverer of AC electrical current and radio waves.
-Ben