Visit historical sites of Pula and feel the vibes of summer by the sea. Spend your vacation far away from the concrete jungle – spend your vacation in Pula!
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Ancient Pula just for you
Pula is the largest town of Istria that is located at the southern point of the Istrian peninsula. Pula is abundant with historical sites and examples of Roman architecture, so it is a great place for the modern tourist. It is an important shipbuilding center and administrative center of Istria County.
Time to relax and feel the Pula spirit
If you want to relax you should surely find yourself one of the Pula’s best pebbly beaches, read a book and soak up the sun. For the ones who seek shades and crystal clear sea, Pula’s beaches are definitely a place to be. Beach Ambrela, Valsaline or Havajsko beach – the choice is yours.
Istria has an eventful past that left a significant trace on its cuisine – from Italian, Central European and Austrian-Hungarian to Slav influence. So, if you’re tempted for a taste of Mediterranean then you should try fish, crabs and shellfish cooked in a hundred different ways; and if you’re longing for continental food you should eat boar goulash, pasta with truffles or sauce of game. For desert we recommend you to try the kroštule and fritule.
Pula Arena amphitheater: The most important monument in Pula
First thing that we recommend you to visit is Pula Arena. It’s not the biggest, but it is the quite impressive 6th largest Roman Coliseum in the World. The Arena was built in the 1st century AD and was used until 5th century for gladiators fights. Below ground you should walk around a series of tunnels and rooms where the animals and gladiators waited for their fight. Today, arena is used for various host events and performances such as Opening Concerts of Outlook Festival and Dimensions Festival, or program of Pula Film Festival. The Triumphal Arch of Sergius is a monument from 1st century that is erected to honor the members of the Sergii family who fought and died in a battle between Octavian’s Roman army and Mark Anthony’s Egyptian-Roman army. Peek into the Temple of Augustus that was built in the 2nd century BC and was dedicated to emperor Augusts and the goddess Roma. It was used for many purposes throughout its history and even was hit by a bomb in WWII that almost destroyed it. Not far from the Arena you will find the Twin Gate – the old city gates from 2nd century AD. There is a rumor that the double gates were necessary to allow more townspeople into the city during the gladiators fights and other major town events. Another thing that will definitely leave you breathless is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin that is not like other intricate catholic churches because it was built by the Christians during their persecution and it’s quite minimalist in design but with impressive architecture. In the night time you should visit the Lighting Giants, a relatively new entertainment “monument” in Pula. The giants are precisely industrial cranes along the waterfront in Pula that are decorated with lights display that displays every hour and lasts for about 15 minutes.
Festivals for a fun vacation in Pula
We mentioned already festivals as Outlook and Dimensions that are held inside the Pula Arena, but their event programs is also inside the Fort Punta Christo, near Štinjan, that is an old fortress that includes over ten thousand square meters separated by deep trench over which three bridges lead to their different entrances. All in all, the best time to visit Pula as you can see is definitely in spring and summer when the town is full of performances, festivals, concert’s and movie festival.
We guarantee you that you’ll fall in love with ancient Pula but you’ll adore its modernity. every step you take will be a step to remember. So, visit Pula and remember forever!
Things to do in Pula
- After you raise your glass to James Joyce, visit amphitheater, go on a wild night out at Outlook festival, we recommend you to go for a few days trips outside Pula – Premantura (10km-away) and its near-by cape Kamenjak, see the mummified bodies of saints in the small town of Vodnjan, or visit the Roman Empire remains in Galižana
- Visit the underground system of tunnels also known as the Zerostrasse that was built before and during the WWI to shelter the city’s population
- For an arty experience definitely visit the Rojc, a converted army barracks which are used as a place for the multimedia art center and studios with occasional concerts and similar events
- Visit Vodnjanka, a local, cheap, casual restaurant with simple Istrian dishes
- At Pietas Julia bar sip your cocktail on a Saturday night and feel the Istrian disco fever
- Drink coffee in art-filled café called Cvajner, located on Forum, and check out the exhibits of an up-and-coming local artist in the modern, funky interior
- Stop at the Wine station Trapan and taste splendid wines from their wine offer
- Check out the Roman floor mosaic The Punishment of Dirce which is only a couple of minutes away from the Temple of Augustus, and a great part of this path is located inside a dress shop
- Visit the waterfalls of Kotli, which are a few minutes drive outside Pula
Photos by Mario Fajt / CC BY
Photo by Mario Fajt / CC BY 
