Pula

The city of Pula may seem as yet another beautiful city on the Croatian coast, but what differs it from the other cities is the number of monuments dating to the Roman period. Pula was an important Roman colony for several centuries, for which it is sometimes called Little Rome.

Istria is the largest Croatian peninsula, but also the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. It is known as Little Italy because, for many years, Istria was under the Italian rule, which left its mark on the architecture of the peninsula, as well as on the people of Istria. Along with the rich history and beautiful sea and nature, Istria is full of lovely little towns built in stone.

The most well-known cities of Istria are those on the coast – Pula, Rovinj, Poreč, and Umag. But there are also several lovely towns located in the heartland of the peninsula, such as Grožnjan, Motovun or Hum, which is also known as the smallest town in the world.

The largest, and the most interesting city, architectonically speaking, is Pula. The city of Pula is one of the oldest Croatian cities on the coast. Inhabited ever since the prehistoric times, Pula became an important Roman colony and port on the Adriatic Sea at the time of the Roman Empire. Until this day, the historical center of Pula houses several Roman buildings, all in perfect condition. Some of those are even among the best examples of Roman architecture in the world.

Arena of Pula

The most widely known attraction and the “trademark” of the city is Arena of Pula. The Arena is a Roman amphitheater, which is considered to be one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheaters in the world. It was built during the rule of Emperor Vespasian, in the 1st century, at the same time as the Colosseum in Rome.

It is an elliptical construction, about 130m long and 100m wide. The central part, called the arena, is where the gladiator fights took place, and the stone gallery is where the spectators would sit and cheer. It is believed that the Arena could once seat about 20.000 spectators, while today it only has about 5.000 seats. Beneath the surface, the underground passages are located. They were once used by the gladiators, but today they hold an exhibition and a souvenir shop.

Arena of Pula is not only a historical monument and tourist attraction, but it is also the venue for many different events, such as concerts, festivals, theatre and film screenings, as well as Gladiator fights, a historical spectacle that is held in Pula every summer.

City walls and gates

In ancient and medieval times, the city of Pula was surrounded by walls and had about ten city gates. In the 19th century, when there was no more need to defend the city, and when the city began to expand, surpassing its limits, the walls became unnecessary and were pulled down. Only a small part of walls was left intact, along with two gates, which have been preserved until today. These are the Twin Gates and the Gate of Hercules. The Golden Gate, which used to be the main entrance to the city, was also torn down. Only an Arch, built to lean against the city gate, remains on the site.

Arch of the Sergi

The Arch of the Sergi, often called “Golden Gate”, is an arch built in honor of the Sergi family, the influential local family whose members held important positions in the city at the time. The Arch was built in the 1st century BC and was leaning against the main city gate, the Golden Gate (Porta Aurea). The Arch was constructed in Corinthian style with Hellenistic influences. The town side of the Arc is richly decorated, while the side that was leaning against the Golden Gate is not as rich in decorations. Today, the Arch of the Sergi is one of the most recognizable symbols of Pula and one of the main meeting points for both locals and tourists.

Roman Theater

On a hill in the middle of the city, the remains of an ancient Roman theater were found. This was the so-called small theater. The large theater one was located outside the city walls, but it was not preserved. The fact that Pula had two theaters in addition to the Amphitheater speaks of the importance and rich cultural life of the city during the Roman rule.

The theater has a typical appearance of Teatro Romano, with the semicircular shape, flat scene, and stone-built section for the audience.

Pula Castle

Just above the Roman Theater, on the top of a hill, the Castle of Pula is located. It is a star-shaped fortress with four bastions, built by the Venetians in 1630. Since Pula was an important harbor at the time, the Castle was erected to protect the city. It is believed that there was an earlier fortress dating from the pre-Roman and Roman period on the same site, which also had a defensive purpose.

Nowadays, the Castle houses the Historical Museum of Istria. The museum holds over 40.000 artifacts dating to the different periods of the Istrian history. Among the other, these are the collection of old postcards, maps, arms, uniforms, and maritime equipment.

Temple of Augustus and Forum Romano

At the foot of the hill, between the hill and the sea, the main Roman square is located. The Forum Romano, as it was called, was the center of city life – the religious, administrative, legislative and commercial center of the colony. The same role Forum has preserved until today.

The most significant building on the square, which also dates to the Roman period, is the Temple of Augustus, a typical Templum Romano built at the very beginning of the 1st century. The temple we see today is only a reconstruction of the original temple. In World War II, the Temple was hit by a bomb and completely destroyed. Several years after the war it was reconstructed and turned into a small museum which houses a collection of ancient sculptures.

Istrian cuisine is as good as Istria is beautiful! Although they are both a variation of the Mediterranean cuisine, the traditional food of Istria differs from the Dalmatian cuisine. Fish, squid, asparagus, truffles, pasta, and prosciutto are just some of the ingredients used in Istria.

Valli Delicious

Located in the city center, near the Temple of Augustus, the Valli Delicious Authentic Food & Bar is a modern restaurant that serves traditional food combined with unusual spices and innovative ways of preparing the food. By using only fresh and seasonal ingredients, the restaurant is trying their best to surprise you with the presentation of the food on your plate!

Mediterraneo Restaurant

Mediterraneo Restaurant is a centrally located restaurant that serves local cuisine, Mediterranean cuisine, and seafood. But, if you are more of a meat person, they also have a barbecue and grill. The portions here are as tasty as they are generous, and you can enjoy your meal on a terrace in the middle of the town, just down the street from the Temple of Augustus.

Bistro Alighieri

Bistro Alighieri is a local restaurant situated on Dante’s square, offering typical Istrian and Mediterranean food. The restaurant offers à-la-carte fish or meat dishes, and the daily offer includes several meals at an affordable price. Here you can also grab an interesting snack like squid burger or tuna burger.