One of my favorite things about our

community is how many PicsArtists

double as virtual tour guides. Through

our community, we learn about places we

never knew existed, are reminded of the

beauty of the places we have been, and

virtually tour unventured destinations. But

how often do we get a personal tour from a

municipal councillor of an ancient city?

Through the talent and vision of PicsArtist

(@croata), we can practically travel to one

of the most picturesque places on earth:

Split, Croatia. Situated in the region of

Dalmatia, Split is blessed with lush forests

and a coastline on the crystal clear Adriatic

Sea. Ivan refers to his hometown as the

most beautiful of all cities.

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View of the exterior wall of

Diocletian Palace and the

tower of St. DujeHe backs up his claim that Split is

truly beautiful through his stunning

photography. Through his images,

Emperor Diocletian, who ruled more

than 1,700 years ago, founded Split.

residence situated in the city’s center

as a protected UNESCO World

Cathedral of St. Domnius, known

locally as St. Dujam. The Cathedral,

consecrated in the 7th century AD,

is regarded as the oldest Catholic

cathedral in the world. The structure

itself was built in 305 AD as a

mausoleum for Diocletian. Today, it

serves as the seat of the Archdiocese

of Split-Makarska.

All photos by @croata

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The view from inside the Golden Gate of

Diocletian Palace looking onto Park Ðardin. The

statue in the background is of Gregory of Nin,

(1883-1962), who was born near Split.

Interior of Diocletian Palace

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Cathedral of St. Domnius (St. Duje)

The Roofs of Old Town

Belfry of St.

Domnius

(St. Duje)

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Peristil, the promenade of the Roman

Emperor Diocletian

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View from Split City Hall

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by forests, seafront promenades, and beaches. Ivan and his colleagues get to enjoy each day thanks to the

marvelous view they can see while working at City Hall. It’s a sight that he calls paradise.

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Enjoying the world-famous Split Riva Promenade

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from the beaches, Roman palaces, and ancient monuments, are the people who live here. By sitting on a

bench on the Split Riva, the city’s seaside promenade, we meet strangers who become dear friends in a

matter of minutes.” According to Ivan, such an experience of kindness embodies “the real soul of Split.”

View o Split Riva

d e f n recently married the beautiful

Anna, and their shared love for art leads

them through the quaint streets of

Split searching for art galleries, visiting

the Gallery of Fine Arts, and attending

concerts. Art has always been a part of

Ivan’s life, as has music. He plays the

guitar, sings in rock bands, and creates

murals with spray paint. When he wasn’t

busy creatively expressing himself, Ivan

managed to earn a master’s degree in

electrical engineering.

As the youngest city councillor in the

to support organizations that improve

the standard of living for vulnerable

populations and animal protection

organizations.

Ivan’s favorite adventures, however,

involve spending time with Anna, a

motorcycle, and a camera. “I did not

study photography but have spent

much time studying the photos of great

photographers like Vedran Vidik. This is

how I have learned to compose my own

photos,” he shares.

Photography has always been a part of Ivan’s life. “As a

child I would borrow my father’s camera to shoot photos.

My father recently gave me this old camera—a Russian

Zenit with Helios lenses—as a gift. I hope to take photos of

my children with it one day.”

SLR camera. He now feels his opportunities are endless.

“When I am with the camera, problems disappear. I am

alone with the beauty of the world. In everything and in

that the world is beautiful and that we have to bring that

beauty to the foreground.”

“PicsArt provides artists with an opportunity to improve

their photos. It’s great for beginners, as it has simple-to-

use, yet professional tools, and is also for professionals.

My PicsArt friends give me the greatest incentive and are

great artists. We are each here, passing a small part of

where we live to one another, creating a more beautiful

world together,” shares Ivan.

Ivan embodies PicsArt’s mission to beautify the world.

One look into his gallery (@croata) and you will see how

strongly he believes in this mission and how much he loves

his country and all that is around him. Here is a further

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community @picsart.com.