October 1: Split

High above the city of Split is the ancient fortress of Klis. At one time the "protector" of the city, it is now a ruin accessible only by traveling about 10 kms uphill. Built by the ancient Illyrian tribe, Dalmatae, it was a royal castle for many Croatian kings, and eventually became a large fortress during the Ottoman wars. Klis Fortress has guarded the frontier, being lost and re-conquered several times throughout its more 2000 year long history. Due to its location on a pass that separates the mountains Mosor and Kozjak, the fortress served as a major source of defense in Dalmatia, especially against the Ottoman advance, and has been a key crossroad between the Mediterranean belt and the Balkans. Today it is also one of the filming locations for the HBO program, Game of Thrones.