Quick search
CTRL+K
Quick search
CTRL+K
Pula is a city located in the southwest of Croatian Istria, which is full of exciting history. Pula itself is famous for being home to one of the best-preserved Roman arenas. The arena in Pula is for many the reason to visit Pula, and it is also an impressive work, which is still used for setups during the season.
However, Pula is also much more than the arena, and with a cozy town center within walking distance to everything, it is a pleasant city to visit. The city’s archaeological museum is one of the places where you can take a closer look at the Roman era, and other periods in the city’s and Istria’s history can be experienced at the Pula Fort, which sits on a ridge above the center.
From Pula it is also not far to cultural cities and capitals such as Zagreb, Ljubljana, Trieste and not least nearby Rijeka, where there are great experiences such as in the fashionable suburb of Opatija. This means that the Croatian city can be used as a good starting point for trips in the surrounding area.
Pula’s historic Roman Forum remains the center of the city. The square was established in the century before the birth of Christ and is located at the foot of the central ridge of the city. To establish the square, the sea that went here at the time was filled up.
Forum was the administrative, religious and commercial center of Pula. There have been quite a few temples around the square; now only the Temple of Augustus/Augustov Hram and a back wall of another partially preserved temple.
The impressive Temple of Augustus was built in the decades around the birth of Christ. The temple was originally built as a pagan temple, but has since been used as a church and magazine building, before what was now set up as a museum. The temple was destroyed by a bombardment during World War II, but rebuilt 1945-1947.
The City Palace/Gradska Vijećnica is another attraction around the Forum. When Pula was an independent city, the city’s elegant mansion was built and then it was the seat of the city’s parliament. During Pula’s time under Venetian rule, the Venetian administrator lived here, and subsequently the building housed Pula’s mayor.
The mansion has been extended and rebuilt several times, and the style is now a beautiful mix from the Romanesque period up to and including the Renaissance. On the facade is written 1296, and it is believed to refer to the year of the first major rebuilding, as the city’s administration was certainly located here before 1296.
On top of the 32-meter high, central ridge in Pula, the city’s fort was built in 1630. It was the Venetians who had the star-shaped fort built to protect the city and the port, which was strategically important for trade on the northern Adriatic.
Today, the Istrian Historical Museum is housed in the fort. The museum deals with the period from the Middle Ages to the present day. The large collection is divided into a number of themes, including one about Pula’s history.
Amphiteatar Arena is the name of Pula’s impressive Roman amphitheater, which was built as the sixth largest of its kind in the world. The amphitheater is extremely well preserved today, and among other things it has preserved the four side towers as the only one of the amphitheatres still standing in the historic Roman area.
The Amphitheater Arena was built in the century AD when Pula developed into a regional Roman center. The arena was first built in wood, but after a few years it was rebuilt in an expanded size in stone. The dimensions of the impressive amphitheater were 133×105 meters with a height of 32.5 meters, and approximately 20,000 spectators could sit for the arena’s performances.
The large arena was in use until the 5th century, after which the large building fell into disrepair. One of the reasons was that stones were taken from the arena for the construction of other buildings in Pula. It quickly destroyed part of the arena’s structures, and the looting from the site was stopped in the 13th century, but right up until the 18th century, some of the stones were used for various other constructions.
In the 19th century, the theater was renovated for the first time, where they tried to preserve the large and well-preserved ruin in the best possible way. Arena Amfiteatar was even set up as a new stage for various performances in 1932, and today it is therefore possible to experience the fine atmosphere in the old setting during the summer season’s productions.
Saint Francis Monastery and Church is a Franciscan monastery complex located on the western slope of the central hill in Pula. There used to be an early Christian church complex dedicated to John the Baptist, while the current church is dedicated to Francis of Assisi. Franciscan monks had come to Pula shortly after the foundation of the order in 1209.
The current Franciscan complex was built in the 14th century. The late Romanesque church was completed according to the architect Jacobus de Pola’s design in 1314, and you can see the beginnings of Gothic ornamentation in the architecture. The church is simple and strict in form and interior design, which was appropriate for a church of the beggar order.
In the church, you can notice the main altar, where there is a large gilded wooden polyptych from the mid-15th century. It is one of the most valuable works of Gothic wood sculpture in Istria. In the central field you can see a high relief of the Virgin with Christ, and on the side and in the row above the relief you can see 12 figures of saints.
Santa Maria Formosa Basilica was built as a Byzantine church in the 5th century under Ravenna’s bishop Maximianus, who himself came from the Pula region. He had the church built on the site where a Roman temple of Minerva had previously stood. From the latest in the 7th century, a Benedictine monastery was established in connection with the church.
Santa Maria Formosa was built as a three-nave church with a length of 32 meters, and like other Byzantine churches in, among other places, the Italian area, the church in Pula was also decorated with mosaics. From surviving fragments it is known that mosaics consisted predominantly of green and red intertwined lilies and lotus flowers.
At the beginning of the 8th century, the Venetians began to demand tribute from the Istrian cities in the form of, for example, olive oil, wine and boats. This was also the case for Pula, where over the centuries they arose several rebellions against Venice, which ended up affecting Santa Maria Formosa. The church was gradually destroyed after a Venetian conquest of the city in 1243, and then many parts of the church were transported to Venice and used as building materials.
Today, only parts of the old church’s walls and a chapel have been preserved, structurally reminiscent of chapels in Ravenna. However, the church is also known for preserved mosaics that show a strong influence from Constantinople. The inscriptions in mosaics in the main basilica were then also in Greek, in contrast to the churches in Ravenna, where the inscriptions were in Latin. Some of the fine floor and wall mosaics can now be seen at the city’s archaeological museum.
Sergius’ Triumphal Arch is an arch that was erected in the years 29-27 BC. It was built by and named after the Sergius family, who at the time held important public positions in the city.
The style of the arch is Corinthian, and it is beautifully ornamented on the side facing the city. It forms an atmospheric framework for the many cultural events that take place in the square immediately next to it.
The Archaeological Museum of Istria and Pula depicts the period from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, and it covers the whole of Istria. The museum was founded in 1902 and contains countless effects and finds, arranged in exhibitions about the prehistoric, ancient and medieval history of Istria. The starting point for the museum is the archaeological excavations at Nesactium, but through new finds, the museum’s collection and exhibition have been continuously expanded.
Today, the museum is located in Pula’s former high school, which was built in 1890. Among the local objects, you can see monuments from Pula’s Temple of Augustus. At the museum, the collections are presented through many exciting themes such as the Roman period, early Christianity and the period with Byzantine influence. You can see, for example, the treasure from the historical king Epulon from the 100s BC, a mosaic fragment from the chapel of St. Maria Formosa and a finely crafted ivory casket with Dionysian scenes from the 9th century.
In the prehistoric collection you can see finds from the archaeological sites of Nesactium, Stone Age finds from Romualdo and other Istrian caves, as well as Bronze and Iron Age finds from various hill forts on the peninsula. The Roman antiquities collection shows, among other things, finds from the former Roman cities of Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola, Nesactium and Parentium, while the medieval collection exhibits Christian floor mosaics from Nesactium and Pula and other architectural and artistic treasures from early Christian churches in Istria.
Maria Himmelfartskatedral in Pula was originally built as a religious building in the 4th century. The current church was built from the following century, however part of the original church wall can still be seen. Parts of floor mosaics from the church building of the 400s and 500s have also been preserved.
Over time, however, the church has been rebuilt and expanded several times, so that today the cathedral stands in a mixture of different styles. In 1242, parts of the building burned, and therefore it was naturally rebuilt afterwards. In the 16th century renaissance, the facade was rebuilt, and this happened again in the 18th century classicism.
Next to the cathedral and its then baptistery from the 4th century, the free-standing bell tower of the cathedral was built in 1707. The bell tower was built using stone taken from Pula’s Roman arena, which lies as a beautiful and impressive ruin today. The old baptistery was demolished in 1885 and can therefore no longer be seen.
On the north-eastern slope of the central ridge of Pula are the remains of the city’s two Roman theatres. Note that the amphitheater Arena is not counted as a Roman theater, but of course it can also be seen very clearly in Pula’s profile. Enough of the Little Roman Theater has been preserved to form a fine impression of the structure of the stage, orchestra and audience seats.
It is believed that the theater was built in the 1st century at the foot of the old Castrum. The slope of the hill was used for the auditorium, which was not normal for Roman theaters, but rather Greek, where this inspiration may have come from. In total, there was room for around 5,000 spectators in the theatre, which is again used for staging performances. However, the spectator capacity is around a quarter of the original figure.
Opatija is a fashionable seaside resort along the so-called riviera immediately northwest of the big city of Rijeka. The city has a pleasant climate with around 10 degrees in winter, which is precisely why the city emerged as a resort in the 1800s.
The modern history of Opatija started in 1844 during the Austrian Empire. It was when the Rijeka merchant Iginio Scarpa built Villa Angiolina as a mansion with an attached garden. The villa became a model for others, and when the railway came to nearby Matulji in 1872, the construction of large villas and prestigious hotels was booming. The architecture was inspired by the contemporary style in Vienna, and thereby Opatija differs markedly from the many other towns in Istria.
The Austrian imperial family and many wealthy Austrian families spent holidays here, and this in itself gave further popularity. The first large luxury hotel was built in 1884. It was Hotel Quarnero, which today is called Grand Hotel Kvarner.
The many buildings in beautiful Viennese architecture lie like pearls on a string along the shore of the Kvarner Gulf, where there are also bathing spots and a kilometer-long promenade where you can take some pleasant walks.
Rijeka is a city in the popular Istria and Kvarner area formed by two of the most visited regions in Croatia, where great experiences and sights in culture, nature, shopping and gastronomy await. The main cities are Pula on the west coast of Istria and Rijeka in the Gulf of Kvarner.
Rijeka is the largest city in the region, and the elegant Korzo is the main shopping street, and it winds through the city center. Around Korzo there are several sights such as the city’s well known tower, whose passage leads to both the cathedral and excavations from Rijeka’s past as a Roman settlement.
Poreč is one of Croatia’s nicest cities, and in addition to a beautiful location, there are a number of sights to see. You can also just enjoy a walk in the atmospheric streets of the center; some streets that are still as laid out under Roman town planning.
The biggest attraction in the city is Euphrasdius Basilika/Eufrazijeva basilika, which is on UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage. The basilica was built over several stages between the 200s and 500s. Most famous are the beautiful mosaics that were made in the 200s. The mosaics are considered to be some of the world’s most beautiful preserved from the Byzantine era.
The Sinčič mansion, where the Poreč Museum is housed, is also worth a visit. You can also go to the Marafor square, which was the city’s historic Roman forum. Here are interesting ruins of a Temple of Neptune and a Temple of Mars.
Piran is a town picturesquely situated as one of Slovenia’s few coastal towns on the tip of a peninsula. The Piran Peninsula was settled in the 100s BC, when the area was part of the Roman Empire. Over time, the city has been mainly influenced by belonging to Venice and Austria.
Piran’s central square is called Tartinijev trg. It is named after the composer and musician Giuseppe Tartini, of whom a statue was erected in 1896. The square was originally a harbor basin outside the city walls. In the Middle Ages, the harbor streets were built up, and the bustle increased continuously. In 1894, the harbor basin was filled up, and the square became a reality.
From Tartinijev trg, the streets in the center start, and to the west you reach the tip of the peninsula. North of the square you can see Saint Jørgen Church/Cerkev svetega Jurija (Adamičeva ulica), whose tower is inspired by Venetian architecture. The church is beautifully located at the top of the town, and the richly decorated interior is also worth a trip.
The city of Koper is one of Slovenia’s few cities by the sea, and it is the country’s largest port. Immediately north of Koper is Italy, and over time the Italian influence has also been great and a very active and clear part of history. Today, Koper is officially bilingual, and here both Slovenian and Italian are spoken, in which case the city is called Capodistria.
In ancient Greece, Koper was called Aegida, and since then the well-located city has been subject to several kingdoms. For many centuries the city traded with Venice, and it also became the Venetian capital of Istria. In more recent times, Koper belonged to Italy after World War I, and after World War II it was part of the Free State of Trieste, which was divided between Italy and Yugoslavia in 1954.
Koper’s old town is worth seeing. The Loža/Loggia (Titov trg 1) is a distinguished Venetian mansion dating back to 1462. The Praetorian Palace/Pretorska palača (Titov trg 3) is the city’s town hall, a function that has been located here since 1254. The current mansion is in Gothic, Venetian style and begun in 1452.
In the central square you can also see Mariæ Himmelfartskirke/Župnijska cerkev Marije Vnebovzete (Titov trg), whose history dates back to the 12th century. The church tower is a clear profile in the city’s skyline.
Trieste is the easternmost city in northern Italy, and its location on the trade routes between Latin, Germanic and Slavic merchants has given it a rich history. For example, the city belonged to the Habsburg monarchy for centuries from 1382 to 1918, and it was Austria-Hungary’s fourth largest city for a period.
In the beautiful center of Trieste you can see beautiful buildings and elegant squares with stunning Piazza Unità d’Italia as the most famous. Here are fine buildings on three sides, and in the side streets there are many other places of interest. For example, you should see the Grand Canal in the Borgo Teresiano neighborhood.
Šijanska cesta 1
konzum.hr
Narodni trg
Ulica Sergijevaca, Forum, Flanatička ulica, Ciscuttijeva ulica, Giardini ulica
Kaštel Pula
Gradinski uspon
pmi.hr
Aquapark Fažana
Bi Village
aquapark-fazana.com
Pula City Tour
Amfiteatar, Giardini
pulacitytour.com
Glavani Park
Glavani 10, Barban
glavanipark.com
Aquapark Istralandia
Novigrad-Nova Vas, Brtonigla
istralandia.hr
The city of Pula is located on a site where remains of human activity from prehistoric times have been found. Traces are finds in caves, and signs of settlements can be dated back at least 4,000 years. In the later Bronze Age, these became fortified residences on ridges, and effects and statues from Greek culture have also been found. Thus, Pula has a rich background before historical times.
The Greek historian Strabo lived around the time of Jesus’ birth, and he mentioned in his works that the place was inhabited by the Histrians, who are believed to come from Illyrians or Venetians.
The Romans conquered Istria in 177 BC, and Pula became an important city in the kingdom. In the 40s BC the city achieved the status of colonia, and at its peak during this period more than 30,000 people lived here.
Pula’s provisional end came in 42 BC. in connection with the civil war for power in the kingdom between the triumvirate Octavian, Marcus Antonius and Lepidus and Brutus and Cassius. Pula supported Cassius, and when Octavian withdrew victorious from the conflict, Pula was razed to the ground.
However, the city was quickly rebuilt on the initiative of Octavian’s daughter Iulia, and the new city called Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola Pollentia Herculanea. The colony was like a new start for the city, which formally belonged to the region of Venetia et Histria. The name then simply became the Italian Pola.
The Romans initiated the construction of several large buildings during this time. The most famous is Pola’s great arena, which was built in the years 27 BC-68 AD. In addition to the arena, a new water supply was also established and city walls and gates were built.
Over the centuries, the once dominant Roman Empire began to falter and eventually disintegrate. In the fourth century, Goths arrived, and they also came to rule in the city from 493 to 538.
Pola then became part of the growing Byzantine Empire, which in many ways had taken over from the Roman Empire. From 540 to 751 the Exarchate of Ravenna was given control of Pola, and during this time the city grew and developed; for example, Pola became an important Byzantine port city.
After being an integral part of the Byzantine Empire for centuries, in 788 Pola became part of Charlemagne’s Frankish Empire, and administratively the city belonged to the Kingdom of Italy.
In 1148, the city-state of Venice captured Pola, who two years later swore allegiance to Venice, a growing republic. In 1192, Pisa succeeded in capturing the city, which soon came back under Venice’s control.
The northern Italian city-states based their strength and strife on an extensive trade, and both Venice, Genoa and Pisa came to play a role in Pola’s development.
In 1238, Pope Gregory IX formed an alliance against the kingdom of the Franks, and this included both Venice and Genoa. The alliance later also went against Pisa, which was close to Pola. For this reason, Venice sacked Pola in 1243. In 1267 and again in 1397, the city was again attacked and plundered; in the last case, it was after a battle between Genoa and Venice, from which the Genoese emerged victorious.
On the whole, the 1300s and 1300s were a changing period with some decline for Pola. The city was several times on the side of both Genoa and Venice, and the two city-states fought over the city’s important port. By 1331, however, Venice had become Venetian, which it remained until Venice finally became a state in 1797.
Despite a stable supremacy from 1331, the following centuries were not only peaceful for Pola. There were thus attacks from both Hungarians, Habsburgs and Genoese. Many surrounding villages were abandoned, and diseases such as plague and malaria also hit.
In the 18th century, the population was down to around 3,000, so it was a small town compared to the much larger and more important Pola of earlier times, which had had ten times the population.
The city-state of Venice ceased to exist in 1797, and with Napoleon’s Treaty of Campo Formio, Pola was made part of the Habsburg Empire ruled from Vienna. However, this status only lasted until 1805, when the same Napoleon’s French troops captured the city, which then became subject to the French-backed Italian kingdom.
Napoleon lost after major battles fought in Europe during these years, and Pola, together with Istria, became part of the Habsburg Empire again in 1813. This time lasted until 1918, when the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary collapsed with the First World War.
During the Austrian rule, Pola developed considerably. In 1859, a naval base was established here on the initiative of the Danish admiral Hans Birch Dahlerup, who was in Austrian service. Pola’s natural harbor became Austria’s largest naval port, and shipyards were also built in the town.
In the 19th century, many companies were also established in Pola, which became a major industrial town. In 1910, the population was over 58,000, and the city also enjoyed being the summer residence of the Austrian court. Pola had also been built up with fine mansions along the city’s riviera, and trams ran in the streets.
Most of Istria, including Pola, was handed over to Italy in 1918. Despite the German-speaking Habsburg rule, the city had been primarily Italian-speaking, and before World War I, almost 50% of the population was Italian.
Pola became the provincial capital of Italy, but despite this status, the period after 1918 was a hard time for the city. Many inhabitants and activities moved with the Austrians; it was not least about shipbuilding and the many military personnel who had been stationed here. Many Croats who had moved here during the Austrian era also chose to move back to Yugoslavia during the fascist era that came with the rule of Benito Mussolini.
World War 2 left its mark on Pola, which after the fascist fall in 1943 was occupied by German troops, who maintained a submarine base in the town. The base was the target of several Allied bombings during the war, which caused some destruction.
After the end of World War II in 1945, Pola was administered by an Allied military government. The town was located as an enclave in Istria, which had been partially occupied by British-backed Yugoslav forces in 1945. This status was maintained until Pola was transferred to Yugoslavia with a peace treaty with Italy in 1947. As part of the new state, many of the Italian majority fled to Italy.
With the transition to Yugoslavia, Pola changed its name to Pula. Today you see both the name Pula and Pola, as the city, like other parts of Istria, is officially bilingual. Since Croatia’s independence in 1991, Pula has been part of this, and since then, among other things, a university has been established in the city, which remains a major port city and a favorite destination for tourists.
Pula, CroatiaOverview of Pula
Pula is a city located in the southwest of Croatian Istria, which is full of exciting history. Pula itself is famous for being home to one of the best-preserved Roman arenas. The arena in Pula is for many the reason to visit Pula, and it is also an impressive work, which is still used for setups during the season.
However, Pula is also much more than the arena, and with a cozy town center within walking distance to everything, it is a pleasant city to visit. The city’s archaeological museum is one of the places where you can take a closer look at the Roman era, and other periods in the city’s and Istria’s history can be experienced at the Pula Fort, which sits on a ridge above the center.
From Pula it is also not far to cultural cities and capitals such as Zagreb, Ljubljana, Trieste and not least nearby Rijeka, where there are great experiences such as in the fashionable suburb of Opatija. This means that the Croatian city can be used as a good starting point for trips in the surrounding area.
About the Whitehorse travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
The Whitehorse travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Canadian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Whitehorse is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Whitehorse and Canada
Canada Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/canada
City tourism: https://visitwhite-horse.ca
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Whitehorse you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Saint Francis Monastery and Church is a Franciscan monastery complex located on the western slope of the central hill in Pula. There used to be an early Christian church complex dedicated to John the Baptist, while the current church is dedicated to Francis of Assisi. Franciscan monks had come to Pula shortly after the foundation of the order in 1209.
The current Franciscan complex was built in the 14th century. The late Romanesque church was completed according to the architect Jacobus de Pola’s design in 1314, and you can see the beginnings of Gothic ornamentation in the architecture. The church is simple and strict in form and interior design, which was appropriate for a church of the beggar order.
In the church, you can notice the main altar, where there is a large gilded wooden polyptych from the mid-15th century. It is one of the most valuable works of Gothic wood sculpture in Istria. In the central field you can see a high relief of the Virgin with Christ, and on the side and in the row above the relief you can see 12 figures of saints.
Santa Maria Formosa Basilica was built as a Byzantine church in the 5th century under Ravenna’s bishop Maximianus, who himself came from the Pula region. He had the church built on the site where a Roman temple of Minerva had previously stood. From the latest in the 7th century, a Benedictine monastery was established in connection with the church.
Santa Maria Formosa was built as a three-nave church with a length of 32 meters, and like other Byzantine churches in, among other places, the Italian area, the church in Pula was also decorated with mosaics. From surviving fragments it is known that mosaics consisted predominantly of green and red intertwined lilies and lotus flowers.
At the beginning of the 8th century, the Venetians began to demand tribute from the Istrian cities in the form of, for example, olive oil, wine and boats. This was also the case for Pula, where over the centuries they arose several rebellions against Venice, which ended up affecting Santa Maria Formosa. The church was gradually destroyed after a Venetian conquest of the city in 1243, and then many parts of the church were transported to Venice and used as building materials.
Today, only parts of the old church’s walls and a chapel have been preserved, structurally reminiscent of chapels in Ravenna. However, the church is also known for preserved mosaics that show a strong influence from Constantinople. The inscriptions in mosaics in the main basilica were then also in Greek, in contrast to the churches in Ravenna, where the inscriptions were in Latin. Some of the fine floor and wall mosaics can now be seen at the city’s archaeological museum.
Sergius’ Triumphal Arch is an arch that was erected in the years 29-27 BC. It was built by and named after the Sergius family, who at the time held important public positions in the city.
The style of the arch is Corinthian, and it is beautifully ornamented on the side facing the city. It forms an atmospheric framework for the many cultural events that take place in the square immediately next to it.
The Archaeological Museum of Istria and Pula depicts the period from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, and it covers the whole of Istria. The museum was founded in 1902 and contains countless effects and finds, arranged in exhibitions about the prehistoric, ancient and medieval history of Istria. The starting point for the museum is the archaeological excavations at Nesactium, but through new finds, the museum’s collection and exhibition have been continuously expanded.
Today, the museum is located in Pula’s former high school, which was built in 1890. Among the local objects, you can see monuments from Pula’s Temple of Augustus. At the museum, the collections are presented through many exciting themes such as the Roman period, early Christianity and the period with Byzantine influence. You can see, for example, the treasure from the historical king Epulon from the 100s BC, a mosaic fragment from the chapel of St. Maria Formosa and a finely crafted ivory casket with Dionysian scenes from the 9th century.
In the prehistoric collection you can see finds from the archaeological sites of Nesactium, Stone Age finds from Romualdo and other Istrian caves, as well as Bronze and Iron Age finds from various hill forts on the peninsula. The Roman antiquities collection shows, among other things, finds from the former Roman cities of Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola, Nesactium and Parentium, while the medieval collection exhibits Christian floor mosaics from Nesactium and Pula and other architectural and artistic treasures from early Christian churches in Istria.
Maria Himmelfartskatedral in Pula was originally built as a religious building in the 4th century. The current church was built from the following century, however part of the original church wall can still be seen. Parts of floor mosaics from the church building of the 400s and 500s have also been preserved.
Over time, however, the church has been rebuilt and expanded several times, so that today the cathedral stands in a mixture of different styles. In 1242, parts of the building burned, and therefore it was naturally rebuilt afterwards. In the 16th century renaissance, the facade was rebuilt, and this happened again in the 18th century classicism.
Next to the cathedral and its then baptistery from the 4th century, the free-standing bell tower of the cathedral was built in 1707. The bell tower was built using stone taken from Pula’s Roman arena, which lies as a beautiful and impressive ruin today. The old baptistery was demolished in 1885 and can therefore no longer be seen.
On the north-eastern slope of the central ridge of Pula are the remains of the city’s two Roman theatres. Note that the amphitheater Arena is not counted as a Roman theater, but of course it can also be seen very clearly in Pula’s profile. Enough of the Little Roman Theater has been preserved to form a fine impression of the structure of the stage, orchestra and audience seats.
It is believed that the theater was built in the 1st century at the foot of the old Castrum. The slope of the hill was used for the auditorium, which was not normal for Roman theaters, but rather Greek, where this inspiration may have come from. In total, there was room for around 5,000 spectators in the theatre, which is again used for staging performances. However, the spectator capacity is around a quarter of the original figure.
Similar to Pula Travel Guide
