Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle, Diocletian`s palace in

Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia
Vinka Marinković
Croatian Conservation Institute
Split Conservation Department
Section for Stone Conservation
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia

Diocletian’s Palace in Split was built in the period 295.-305., and is
considered as one of the most significant and the best preserved
monument of Late Antiquity

In 1979. the Palace was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
Diocletian’s Palace (ideal reconstruction) , Ernest Hebrard, 1912.
Diocletian’s Palace today
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia
In last 15 years the number of conservation- restoration interventions and
archaeological researches in Palace are increasing.
 The reasons for this continual rise in the so-called heritage awareness may be found in
the development of the professional field, in the enthusiastic acceptance of the most
recent standards and trends in conservation-restauration field and in the rekindled
national awareness after the Croatian Liberation War (1991.-1995.)

The chart show the number of conservationrestauration works and archaeological research in
Diocletian s Palace in the period 1994.-2009.
(V. Marinković, 2010.)
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia
The projects were initalized, finacial supported and supervised by the Ministry
of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, City of Split Municipality (Agency for
Historic Core) and foreign partners: World Monuments Found, Antiqua
Foundation and American Express Foundation
 The projects were held in the most by Croatian Conservation Institute and
private companies with licence for the works on cultural heritage

Golden gate, of Diocletian’s palace, after
restoration- conservation (V. Marinković, 2011.)
Conservation- restoration works on temple of Jupiter (Marasović, 2009.)
Conservation- restoration works on
Roman mosaic, Arhiđakonova street
(Croatian Conservation Institute, 2009.)
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia




The biggest and most atractive conservation
project in Diocletian’s Palace is conservationrestoration of the Peristyle
The project started in 2004. with the initiative of
the Agency for the Historic Core of the Municipal
Authority of Split
Contractor of the works is Croatian Conservation
Institute (Department for stone conservation)
Due to the complexity and extend of the
intervention, the project of conservation is
divided in 6. phases of the work
Phases of the works on the Peristyle of Diocletians Palace (Croatian Conservation Institute, 2011.)
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia

(1)
(2)
After detailed architectural and photographic
documentation of the current state, pursuant to
contemporary non-destructive testing techniques,
on the stone areas of the Peristyle are encounter
several types of damage and soiling:
1) Inorganic soiling (black crust, dark sediments)
2) Organic soiling (biological growths)
3) Erosion of the surface layer of the stone
4) Damage caused by soluble salts
5) Damage caused by metal corrosion
6) Structural damage
7) Inappropriate materials used in earlier
operations
(3)
(4)
(6)
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia

The aim of conservation-restoration operation on Peristyle of Diocletian’s Palace was to
eliminate the cause of detoration and repair the damages.

The methodology was adopted during the first phase of the operations and was applyed
on all phases: organic and inorganic soiling is removed from the surface of the stone(1);
soluble salts are drawn out of the structure of the stone(2); iron elements in the stone are
extracted and were replaced with new elements of stainless metal (3); the cement in the
bonds between the stone blocks is replaced with acrylic-lime mortar; cement patches are
removed; structural damage is reconsructed (4); unstable parts of the stone surfaces are
consolidated and suitable surface protection preparations are applied to the stone…
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
THE RESULTS
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia
Capital of the east colonnade before and after restoration works
(Croatian Conservation Institute, 2010.)
Part of the east colonnade with completed restoration works; 1st phase of
the project (Croatian Conservation Institute, 2005.)
West Peristyle front after the restoration works (Croatian Conservation
Institute, 2008.)
Capitals of the east colonnade after restoration works (Croatian Conservation
Institute, 2010.)
Conservation-restoration works at Peristyle,
Diocletian’s palace in Split, Croatia
The Peristyle conservation- restoration project had multiple effect:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Aesthetic ( soiling that uglified the stone is removed )
“Healthy” (the cause of damaging were reduced to the minimum)
Educative (the public was made keenly aware of problems that been
considered only by a narrow circle of experts- conservators, archaelogist;
this is an outstanding opportunity for young experts)
Urbanistic (the works helped in defining old city core and revitalisation of
that part of Palace)