Il Trovatore, Libreto from the formal opening of the Bajamonti theatre

The Municipal Theatre (today’s HNK – Croatian National Theatre), which was built in 25 months in 1893 , two years after the populists’ victory, by the Municipality of Split and its mayor Gajo Bulat, made it possible for Split’s concerts and drama performances to be held in the new, representative premises of the Theatre’s great hall and foyer. Split, which at that time had a population of only 16 000, built a theatre for 1 000 visitors, the largest one in South-Eastern Europe in its time.