Victor Travel Blog

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Do you know one common fact for the White House, that was built in 1800, and the Palace of Emperor Diocletian in the Croatian Split, grounded in the distant 305?

The White House, USA – http://www.mppl.org

Probably the White House for the Americans is the soul of power, stability and prosperity. It is one of the symbols of the American statehood, endowed with the same significance as the Stars and the Stripes. The White House approaches two hundred and twelve years this year.

One has to agree that the White House is not a traditional building for the modern America. It is a residence constructed in the style of near Classicism, characterized by the adherence to the strict principles of symmetry and classical architecture, aroused in the Ancient Greece and Rome. But it is not the singular historic parallel in connection to the American symbols.

The Diocletian Palace, Split, Croatia

The antique principles of symmetry? Sure. However there is one more common fact – white color of the same kind of stone, used during the building. Seems like the White House has pretty fair chances for the long existence.

The construction of the White House were finished in 1800 and initially the building was named a “president palace”. The location of the building was chosen personally by the President George Washington in 1792. The construction was launched in 1792 and finished on November 1, 1800. People started to call it “white” from the very beginning, although not officially – because of the light sandstone (a special limestone of the snow-white color), that was used for the lining.

This sandstone of the distinguished color is being produced for ages at the stone mines on Brac Island in Croatia.

Brac – is the third-biggest island in the Adriatic Sea, famous all over the world by the out and away best white stone produced in here. Brac stone was used for the construction of many famous builidngs and cities in the whole world. For example, ancient Tragurion (it is 2000 years old) – the nowadays Trogir in Croatia was made of this stone (and partially from the Seget stone). That’s why it is also white.

The white Trogir, Croatia

The White House’s relatives by the “white stone” are the historical monument The Palace of Emperor Diocletian in Split protected by UNESCO, Wiener Hofburg Palace, and also The Parliament building in Budapest and the Governor Palace in Trieste. The high quality of the stone determined its usage in such spheres as building, architecture, sculpture and reconstruction of the historical buildings.

The white Hofburg Palace, Wien – http://www.lynn-rick.com

The white Parliament, Budapest – http://www.nateandmeg.wordpress.com

The Palace of Diocletian was the first creation of the architecture masters from Brac. Since then the mastership of stone dressers and carvers is being passed on from generation to generation.

The white Diocletian Palace, Split, Croatia

Nowadays Brac stone is being produced in eleven stone mines, treated at the splitting factory, located at the same island and is being used for the manufacture of the different products: from bricks for building expensive Mediterranean villas and hotels in the style of antique architecture to the souvenirs.

One of them we recently brought from Croatia.

The clock in a white Brac stone

More about Croatia:
Austrian Cuisine or 100 Points in Favor of Croatia
Our Sailing in Croatia
Cozy Prison at Spanjola Fortress of Hvar