There are plenty of reasons to visit the beautiful and vibrant city of Split, where modernity and tradition come together; there are stunning views over the Adriatic and beaches along the coast, there is always somewhere to grab something delicious or go for drinks, Roman ruins and architectural gems abound, and there is an endless list of things to see and do. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Split and you are interested in unique or bizarre attractions, then you should definitely pop into the UNESCO-protected SPAR in town…
Okay, so, technically it is actually a Billa supermarket (an Austrian supermarket group that has since been purchased by the Spar food retail chain) and it is technically located in a building that is part of a UNESCO-award architectural complex. In fact, it is part of the Mala Papalićeva Palača, a palace that is the former home of a noble family, which dates back to the 13th century originally and was rebuilt in the 15th century. This borders with Diocletian’s Palace and it part of Split’s Historic Centre, which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. So, the SPAR is, technically UNESCO-protected by being located inside this building.
Okay, so, technically it is actually a Billa supermarket (an Austrian supermarket group that has since been purchased by the Spar food retail chain) and it is technically located in a building that is part of a UNESCO-award architectural complex. In fact, it is part of the Mala Papalićeva Palača, a palace that is the former home of a noble family, which dates back to the 13th century originally and was rebuilt in the 15th century. This borders with Diocletian’s Palace and it part of Split’s Historic Centre, which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. So, the SPAR is, technically UNESCO-protected by being located inside this building.
These Roman columns inside a supermarket in Split, Croatia pic.twitter.com/TrMMV7dYO2
— Whoa Interesting (@WhoaInteresting) March 1, 2019
The ground floor of the architectural complex of Mala Papalićeva Palača is privately owned and, as such, the supermarket franchise was able to purchase the space in 2014. Locals aren’t too pleased about the recently opened supermarket being plonked inside of one of the buildings that is part of their rich architectural heritage but the town administration could do nothing about it, saying, “The city, unfortunately, has no influence in the use of space. The only possible instrument would be the PUP historic core (which has expired), but even PUP does not distinguish between different types of stores. The Conservation Department could (and should) influence the intent, so that during registration of the building it is deemed a single cultural property, which would need their approval for any change in conditions. All this, unfortunately, is covered very poorly by laws and regulations.”
Unfortunate as this gap in the laws is, one can’t help be intrigued by this unique store and the opportunity to browse aisles of groceries in Croatia amidst actual Roman columns…
Photo credits: Francesco Bandarin / CC BY-SA 3.0-IGO