The Forum (Zadar): The city's main square, the Forum is notable for the Roman ruins that lie in situ just outside the St. Donatus church complex. These are not ruins you'll tread on lightly: They are used daily. Merchants display their wares on what's left of the walls; kids ride their trikes over them; and people sit anywhere. This is the heart of the city.
The Peristil (Split): Once Diocletian's reception room, the Peristil is just inside the Silver Gate. It is perhaps the one place in what's left of the palace besides the cellar where you can grasp the scope of the place and how it looked in its prime. The Peristil is also where Split puts on its famous opera performances during its celebrated summer festival.
Forum Square (Pula): This is the city's center and the site of its second-best Roman ruin, the Temple of Augustus. The 2nd-century B.C. temple is now a museum. Extensively restored after severe damage during World War II, it still is an exceptional example of Roman engineering.
